'.'/rl'lj^.J . 


PICTURESQUE 


WASHINGTON 


ILLINOIS 


I 


Picturesque  Washington,  Illinois 

1906 


PUBLISHED    BY 

PAUL  R.  GODDARD,   Editor  of  the  Washington  Post, 
and  THEO.   ROEHM. 

Photographs  by  C.  Marquard. 

Panorama  Views  by  G.  W.  Freese,   Eureka,   111. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON 


CAVAIvIER  DE  LA  SALLE,  With  his  thirty-two  men,  were 
the  first  white  people  to  settle  in  Illinois.  In  1680  this 
expedition  landed  on  the  shores  of  the  Illinois  river,  di- 
rectlj'  west  of  Washington.  Thej'  established  a  colonj'  and 
built  Fort  Creve  Coeur  on  the  bluffs  six  and  one  half  miles 
from  this  city.  A  few  years  agfo  a  monument  was  erected  on 
this  spot,  on  land  purchased  from  Louis  Rein  of  Washington, 
to  mark  the  place  of  the  first  settlement.  The  Fort  flourished 
until  1686,  when,  in  the  absence  of  La  Salle,  Tonti  and  three 
friars,  the  garrison  mutinied  and  destroyed  the  Fort.  Over  a 
century  later,  in  1813,  a  settlement  of  French-Indian  traders 
and  hunters  were  driven  away  from  this  historic  point  by  Cap- 
tain Craig  of  the  Illinois  militia,  for  firing  on  his  troops  at 
night,  while  his  boats  were  anchored  off  the  shore.  Fort  Clark 
was  built  in  1813,  near  the  present  foot  of  Liberty  street,  Peo- 
ria, and  was  maintained  until  it  was  burned  b3'  the  Indians  in 
1818  or  1819.  The  first  American  colony  settled  in  Peoria  April 
19,  1819.  It  consisted  of  three  families  from  Virginia,  three 
from  Kentucky  and  one  from  New  York. 

The  first  settlement  in  Tazewell  county,  aside  from  the 
establishment  of  Fort  Creve  Coeur,  was  made  at  Dillon  by  Nath- 
an, Thomas  and  Walter  Dillon  in  1823.  On  the  formation  of  this 
County  in  1827,  Mackinaw  was  the  County  Seat.  In  1831  it  was 
removed  to  Pekiii.  In  1836  to  Tremont,  and  then  again  to  Pek- 
in  in  1850,  at  which  time  the  present  Court  House  was  built. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  Town  of  Washington  was  made 
in  1825  by  Wm.  Holland,  Sr.,  who  came  here  from  Peoria,  then 
Fort  Clark.  Prior  to  his  removal  here  he  had  built  a  log  house 
near  the  present  site  of  A.  G.  Danforth's  residence.  It  was 
the  only  house  and  his,  the  only  family  in  or  near  Washington, 
until  1826.  His  nearest  neighbor  lived  on  Farm  Creek  about 
ten  miles  west.  The  Holland  families  living  here  today  are 
descendants  of  the  twentj'-one  children  of  this  Wm.  Holland 
and  most  of  them  were  numbered  among  the  eightj'-two  grand 
children  and  fifty  great  grand  children  whom  he  left  at  his 
death  on  reaching  the  ripe  age  of  91  j'ears.  The  north- 
west quarter  of  section  24,  town  26,  range  3  west  of  the  Third 
P.  M.,  just  east  of  the  original  town  of  Washington,  was  im- 
proved by  Holland  in  1826,  and  was  the  first  farm  improved. 


In  1828  Wm.  Thompson  of  Ohio,  William  Weeks  and  John 
Redman  of  Indiana,  came  to  this  settlement;  one  located  on 
the  place  known  as  the  old  Johnson  farm,  one  on  Highland 
Park  Addition  and  the  other  on  the  old  Peter  Portman  farm. 

Ira  Crosby  of  New  York  came  in  1827,  locating  on  the  Jas. 
R.  Crane  homestead.  Thesame  year GeorgeBurrow  of  Tennes- 
see and  Wm.  Birkett  of  Lancashire,  England,  located  here. 
The  Birkett  families  living  here  are  mostly  all  descendants  of 
this  Wm.  Birkett. 

In  1828  James  Harvey,  the  father  of  Wesley  B.,  came  from 
Ohio  and  located  on  the  Benjamin  Kindig  farm. 

Peter  P.  Scott  of  Ohio  located  here  in  1829  and  Wm.  Heath 
of  Ohio  located  in  Wrenn's  grove  in  1830.  Henson  Thomas,  a 
son  in  law  of  Heath's  and  father  of  William  and  Simon  H., 
came  from  Ohio  in  this  same  year,  also  James  McClure  of  Indi- 
ana, who  made  some  improvements  on  the  farm  now  occupied 
bv  George  Hagenstoz.  There  were  now  thirteen  families  in 
Washington,  besides  small  settlements  in  Deer  Creek  and  Mor- 
ton Townships. 

One  of  the  early  marriages  in  Washington  was  celebrated 
at  Reuben  Bandj^'s  home,  who  came  from  Kentucky  in  1831, 
between  Lawson  Holland  and  Elizabeth  Bandy  in  October,  1833. 

Abraham  Van  Meter  of  Kentucky  located  here  in  1831,  the 
Van  Meters  still  living  here  being  descendants. 

Rev.  Nathan  Curtiss,  a  Methodist  minister,  located  here  in 
1831  and  was  one  of  the  first  ministers.  The  descendants  of  his 
three  daughters,  Mrs.  Peter  Fifer,  Mrs.  Chas.  Kern  and  iVIrs. 
Wheaton,  are  among  our  best  citizens. 

In  1831  our  first  politician  appeared  on  the  scene.  Col.  Ben- 
jamin Mitchell  of  Virginia,  He  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
in  1834  and  the  state  senate  in  1836.  He  died  in  1840.  He  was 
succeeded  in  the  senate  by  Major  CuUom,  father  of  Shelby  B. 
Major  Cullom  is  buried  in  our  cemetery. 

In  1832  quite  a  number  of  immigrants  came,  among  whom 
was  John  Durham  of  Baltimore,  Md.  He  occupied  the  dwell- 
ing just  recently  rebuilt  by  Mrs.  Wm.  Witte,  and  was  for  a  long 
time  proprietor  of  the  first  saw  mill  operated  here.  About  this 
time  Walter  and  Thomas  Birket  of  Lancashire,  England,  John 
Johnson  of  Ohio  and  the  Rev.  Richard  McCorkle  of  North  Car- 


olina  located  here,    and  from  this  time  on  the  country  began  to 
fill  up  rapidly. 

Wm.  Holland,  Sr.,  built  the  first  house  and  improved  the 
first  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington.  The  second  house  in 
the  town  was  built  by  Wm.  Weeks  on  the  place  now  known  as 
Highland  Park.  The  third  house  was  built  by  Chas.  S.  Dorsey 
of  Kentucky  in  1831,  on  the  site  of  the  place  now  owned  and 
occupied  bj'  Dr.  C.  H.  Anthony  It  was  occupied  by  Dorsey 
as  a  dwelling  and  store.  In  it  was  exhibited  the  first  stock  of 
goods  offered  for  sale  in  Washington,  consisting  of  dry  goods, 
groceries,  boots  and  shoes,  etc.  The  goods  were  purchased  at 
St.  Louis  by  Dorse)'.  The  above  were  all  log  cabins.  The 
first  frame  house  was  built  by  Jehu  Lindle)'  and  used  b)-  him 
as  a  store  room,  he  having  bought  the  stock  of  goods  brought 
to  town  by  Dorsey.  This  building  was  on  the  same  site  as  now 
occupied  by  Capt.  Sheppard's  brick  stores  on  South  Main 
street.  The  carpenter  work  was  done  by  Robert  Smith,  one  of 
Washington's  first  carpenters.  The  sixth  building  was  a  log 
house  built  near  the  present  site  of  Harlan  Kingsbury's  brick 
store,  occupied  by  Benford's  grocer)-.  The  seventh  building 
was  a  one  and  a  half  stor)-  log  house  built  bj'  Samuel  Hawkin's 
on  the  north  end  of  H.  L.  Price's  lot,  used  as  a  dwelling. 
The  eighth  building  was  a  two-story  frame,  built  on  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Henry  Denhart  &  Co.'s  bank.  It  was  used  by  Aug- 
ust Whipple  as  a  dry  goods  store.  This  was  the  second  store 
opened  in  Washington.  Dorsej'  was  one  of  the  active  business 
men  connected  with  Washington's  early  history.  We  find  his 
name  figuring  in  all  its  earlier  enterprises  and  connected  with 
one  of  its  largest  additions.  The  above  mentioned  buildings 
were  erected  prior  to  1835, 

In  1S34  William  Holland,  Sr  ,  laid  out  the  original  town  of 
Washington,  being  a  part  of  that  part  of  town  lying  east  of 
Main  street.  The  first  parties  to  buy  these  lots  were  Joseph 
Kelso,  Sr..  and  a  Mr.  Wagner,  who  bought  three  lots  each  at 
SI. .SO  apiece  upon  a  year's  credit.  This  part  of  town  was  heav- 
il)-  timbered  and  a  great  deal  of  the  timber  was  used  in  the 
construction  of  Kelso  &  Wagner's  houses  which  the)'  built  in 
the  year  1834.  Kelso  built  the  first  house  in  the  original  town 
and  also  opened  one  of  the  first  farms  wholly  on  the  prairie. 
The  same  year  Styles  and  Titus  Hungerford  built  the  old 
Sherman  house  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Danforth  Hotel. 
The  old  Sherman  house  was  moved  and  rebuilt  and  today  is  oc- 
cupied by  Jarvis  Waughop  on  Washington  street. 


The  blacksmith  shops  up  to  183S  were  rather  primative. 
At  that  time  Brazilla  AUee  built  the  large  two-story  frame 
building  on  South  Main  street  which  Perry  Birkett  rebuilt  and 
occupies  today.  Allee  used  part  of  the  building  for  a  black- 
smith shop  and  Wm.  Spencer  used  a  part  of  it  as  a  wagon  shop. 
This  was  the  first  shop  in  town  in  which  wagons  were  manu- 
factured. The  manufacture  of  tinware  was  first  commenced 
in  1848  by  Chas.  N.  Anthony.  Before  that  time  tinware,  stoves 
and  stovepipe  were  brought  here  and  sold  by  the  merchants. 

The  first  grist  mill  was  built  in  1827  on  the  Holland  Home- 
stead. It  was  run  by  horse  power  and  called  a  band  mill.  The 
first  flour  made  in  Washington  was  in  1826  or  1827  by  means  of 
breaking  the  wheat  with  a  pestle  in  a  mortar  and  sifting 
through  a  hand  sieve.  These  were  the  only  milling  facilities 
until  1836  or  1837  when  Wm.  Kern  built  a  flour  mill  near  the  site 
of  Jacquin's  brewery,  just  north  of  the  T.  P.  &  W.  tracks  on 
North  Main  street.     The  venture  financially  proved  a  failure. 

The  next  flouring  mill  was  built  by  A.  H.  Danforth  iSt  Co. 
in  1845.  It  was  the  first  brick  building  erected  in  Washington. 
The  brick  used  in  its  structure  were  made  by  Danforth,  near 
the  site  of  the  mill.  This  mill  was  bought  by  Wells  and  John 
A.  Andrews  in  1851.  It  wa?  operated  by  them  nearly  a  half  a 
century,  until  their  deaths.  It  is  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of 
the  two  families  and  is  run  by  John  A.  Andrews,  a  son  of  Wells. 

Although  this  was  the  first  brick  building  in  town,  bricks 
had  been  manufactured  here  by  Hamilton  Riddle  as  early  as 
1837.     They  were  used  for  building  chimneys,  cellars,  etc. 

Ths  first  school  in  Washington  was  a  subscription  school 
taught  by  Geo.  H.  Shaw  in  a  school  house  built  of  logs.  The 
log  school  house  was  afterwards  used  as  a  dwelling  by  Lawson 
Holland.  The  school  teacher  Shaw  was  the  first  surveyor  and 
laid  out  the  original  town.  The  second  school  was  taught  in 
the  house  built  by  William  Weeks  as  a  residence  in  the  pres- 
ent Highland  Park  addition,  by  Eli  Redman.  This  was  also  a 
subscription  school  and  numbered  among  its  pupils  W.  B. 
Harvey,  Lawson  Holland,  Mrs.  H.  Riddle  and  Matthew  Holland. 
In  1830  John  Berry  taught  a  school  in  a  log  house  on  the  Geo. 
Hagenstoz  farm,  which  was  used  until  succeeded  by  the  dis- 
trict school  in  1837  or  1838. 

The  Schools  in  Washington  for  more  than  twenty-five 
years  have  been  considered  among  the  best  in  Central  Illinois. 
About  the  middle  of  the  seventies  the  present  school  building 


was  built  at  a  cost  of  S20.000.  It  is  supplied  with  all  modern 
improvements  in  the  way  of  heating;,  ventilation  and  furni- 
ture. There  is  a  primary  school  located  a  little  west  of  the 
business  portion  of  the  town  which  has  been  ably  taught  bj' 
Miss  Mary  Italin  and  who  for  years  has  done  most  valuable 
work  in  this  grade.  The  school  is  controlled  bj'  a  School 
Board  of  six  members  with  a  president  who  simply  presides  at 
the  meetings.  The  present  board  consists  of  Geo.  A.  Hejl, 
secretary;  W.  A.  Pfeiffer,  R.  F.  Tanton,  E.  L.  Mej-ers,  John  P. 
Wrenn,  Geo.  M.  Stimson,  with  Rev.  D  F.  Thomas  as  president. 
The  teachers  for  1905-06  are  L.  I.  Knight.  Superintendent; 
Herbert  Coons  and  Emelyne  Voorhees.  Assistant  Principals; 
Eva  Lonnecker,  Nellie  McTaggart,  Katherine  Harms,  Carrie 
Price.  Sophia  Duerkop,  Frances  Watson  and  Mary  Italin. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  graduates  of  the  Washington 
High  School: 

Class  of  1876— Charlotte  Wells,  Belle  Cameron,  Clara 
Crane,  Mary  Italin. 

Class  of  1880 — Marj'  Cameron. 

Class  of  1881 — Angle  Benford,  Lizzie  Gorin,   Mate  Maffit. 

Class  of  1882— Carrie  McDonald.  Frank  Neitz. 

Class  of  1883 — Lizzie  Rickman,  Frances  Crow,  Lizzie  Van- 
Meter,  Anna  Voorhees,  Bertha  Nafzinger,  Marj-  Jane  Hill.  Lou 
Cameron. 

Class  of  1884— Ida  Pierce.  Carrie  Voorhees,  Mamie  Bratt. 
Ida  Parsons,  Kate  Harms,  Nellie  Gorin,  Carrie  Gibson,  Lulu 
MostoUer. 

Class  of  1885 — Cassie  Danforth,  Leva  A.  Crane,  Telva  B. 
Andrews,  Nellie  Crane,  Hattie  Zinser,  Tina  VanMeter,  Harrj' 
L.  Zinser. 

Class  of  1886— John  Andrews.  Louisa  Portman.  Theodore 
Roehm,  Hattie  Sheppard,  Kate  Miles,  Robert  Cornelison, 
Marj-  McDonnell. 

Class  of  1887  -Mary  Hartwell.  Hattie  Frederick,  Cora  Hud- 
dleston.  Julia  W.  Smith.  Clara  Alphonso,  Bertha  Small. 

Class  of  1888 — Edith  Dougherty,  Asa  Danforth.  Josie 
North.  Eugene  Fue^sle,  Louis  Kelso. 

Class  of  1890— Lillie  Long,  Edgar  BonDurant,  Herman 
Danforth,  Geo.  Wehner,  Plutella  Chaffer,  Laura  Cress,  Oresto 
Ferner,  Frank  Rickman. 

Class  of  1891— Martha  Dougherty,  Luella  Cress,  Willie 
VanMeter. 

Class  of  1892— Jessie  Enos,  Violet  Crane,  Christie  Wohlge- 


muth, Susie  McDonnell,  Nina  Magarity,  Prudence  Schmuck, 
Fannie  Watson,  Laura  Rickman,  Harriet  Heiple. 

Class  of  1893  — Paul  Busse.  Amy  Shaffer,  Maona  Cress, 
Pearl  Long,  Clara  Neitz,  Harry  Graham,  Viola  Cress,  Lulu 
Hornish,  Dora  Weber,  Clara  Stormer,  Hattie  Rickman,  Mary 
Smith,  Josephine  Witte. 

Class  of  1894 — Avis  Price,  Marj'  Stormer,  Fannie  Price, 
Jessie  Waring,  Josephine  Chaffer,  Anna  Andrews,  Mary  Dan- 
forth, Edith  Welch,  Rae  Crane,  Fred  Kehr,  Ralph  Weirick, 
Etta  Habben,   Frank  Thomas,   Emma  Voorhees,  Eloise  Allen. 

Class  of  1895 — Emma  Miller,  Samuel  McCluggage,  Ollie 
Berney,  Charlie  Wehner,  Susie  Allen,  Ida  Birkett,  Willie  Gott, 
Mary  Bullock.  Susie  Wagner,  Sadie  Glabe,  Bessie  Minch. 

Class  of  1896 — Etta  Smith,  Grace  Corbin.  Mary  Ha3'es  Wat- 
son, Laura  Dougherty,  Dora  Holland,  Celia  Ba3ler,  May  Cas- 
sell,  Lj'nn  Kent,  Marion  Wilson. 

Class  of  1897— Caroline  Price.  Roy  Smith,  Maude  Hugill, 
Ethel  Keene,  Edna  Hoover.  Pearl  Rapp,  John  McCluggage, 
Roy  Zinser,  Blanche  Stoll,  Clara  Schaeber,  Elizabeth  Weirick, 
Harold  Jones,  Harry  Mason,  Ethel  Cress. 

Class  of  1898— Carrie  Harms,  Florence  Ba3'ler,  Dean  Cas- 
sel,  Louisa  Miller,  Effie  Downing,  Dave  McCluggage,  Jessie 
Holland,  Tommie  Holland,  Frank  Stormer,  Nellie  E.  Watson, 
Frank  Cramer,  Anna  Haas. 

Class  of  1899— Eva  Lonnecker,  Bessie  Rapp.  Katherine 
Witte,  Anna  Stahl,  Mary  Weiser,  Clyde  Smith,  Edith  Yale, 
Marie  Wrenn,  Mabel  Armstrong,  Gertrude  Heiple,  Ada  Zinser, 
Willie  Blunienshine. 

Class  of  1900 — Jennie  Holland,  Laura  Devine,  Bessie  Bir- 
kett, Callie  Eddy,  Clyde  Strubhar,  Gertrude  Wilson,  Mabel 
Whitehill,  Ella  F.  Harms,  Clara  Keil,  Mary  Rapp,  Gertrude 
Carlson,  Mae  Reynolds.  Beatrice  Cockbill,  Viola  Bamber. 

Class  of  1901  — Maude  Heiple,  Hulda  Minch,  Harry  Birkett. 
Dolly  Birkett,  May  Heiple,  Roy  Miller,  Martha  Birkett,  Bertha 
Kraus,  Nellie  Wilkinson. 

Class  of  1903 — Beulah  Hornish,  Elsie  Wrenn,  Maude  An- 
drews, Alice  Pifer,  Elna  Stolt.  Hattie  Carlson,  Eunice  Zaneis, 
Laura  Kice,  Regie  Sencenbaugh.  Gusta  Blunienshine. 

Class  of  1904 — Hattie  Holland,  Theresa  Jacquin,  Elsie 
Heyl,  Rubj'  Rapp,  George  Danforth. 

Class  of  1905— Mabel  Tobias.  Robert  Wrenn,  Bessie  Ter- 
vene.  Frank  Heiple.  Barbara  Strubhar,  Grace  Alvord,  Daniel 
Vaubel. 


The  first  relifjious  society  was  org'anized  by  Jesse  Walk- 
er, a  Methodist  preacher,  in  1.S28  or  1829.  The  fii-st  meeting 
was  at  VVm.  Holland's,  whose  family  and  the  faniilj'  of  James 
Harvey  constituted  most  of  the  society  at  that  time.  Harvej' 
and  Holland  were  the  only  male  members.  Then  meetings 
were  held  in  private  houses,  until  the  public  school  house  was 
built,  in  which  they  held  their  meetings  until  1840  or  1841, 
when  they  built  the  old  church  near  the  site  of  E.  L.  Meyers' 
residence  on  North  Main  street.  This  society  now  owns  a  fine 
church  building,  kept  vip  to  modern  ideas,  including  a  grand 
pipe  organ.  The  church  now  has  a  membership  of  275,  Sunday 
School  175,   and  auxiliarj-  societies  of  150  members. 

In  1832  the  Christian  church  was  organized  by  the  Rev. 
Richard  McCorkle  in  the  school  house  on  the  old  'Squire  Baker 
farm.  Of  its  first  members  we  find  the  names  of  R.  B.  Mc- 
Corkle and  wife,  James  McClure  and  wife  and  John  Johnson 
and  wife.  It  was  the  second  church  organization  in  Washing- 
ton. This  denomination  erected  the  old  brick  church  now 
owned  by  the  German  Lutherans,  in  1850  or  1851.  Their  sec- 
ond church  was  dedicated  November  28,  1869.  It  burned  from 
a  defective  flue  February  17,  1870.  The  third  church  was  ded- 
icated August  28,  1870.  It  was  an  immense  edifice,  the  height 
to  the  spire  being  127  feet.  It  was  burned  by  lightning  Octo- 
ber 29,  1876.  The  fourth  church,  the  one  now  occupied,  was 
dedicated  July  29,  1877.  The  interior  was  remodeled  and  re- 
decorated last  year  at  an  expense  of  $300.  The  present  mem- 
bership is  about  125;  Sunday  School  50,  and  other  societies  100. 

The  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  in  183}  by  Rev. 
Flavel  Bascum  and  Leonard  Foster,  a  committee  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Sangamon.  The  meeting  for  the  organization  was  at 
Dorsey's  store  and  those  who  united  were:  Henry  Kice,  Mary 
Kice,  John  J.  Tool,  Elizabeth  Tool,  Horace  Blair,  Rebecca  L. 
Blair,  Elizabeth  Ried,  Charlotte  Berrghet,  David  Gibson  and 
Mar)'  Gibson.  Gibson  and  Blair  were  elected  ruling  elders. 
The  ministers  serving  the  church  were;  Romulus  Barnes  1835- 
43,  Wells  Andrews  1843-44,  Geo.  W.  Elliott  1845-50.  Adam  John- 
son 1851-54,  Wells  Andrews  1855-59,  Chas.  Beach  1859-60,  Hiram 
H.  Kellogg  1862-63,  Wells  Andrews  1863-67.  Isaac  A.  Corneli- 
son  1867-72,  .\^m.  L.  Green  1872-73,  Isaac  A.  Cornelison  1873, 
who  is  still  in  charge.  The  present  building  was  erected  in 
1871,  being  the  third  on  the  same  ground. 

There  were  some  Baptists  here  as  early  as  1831,  but  their 
church  was  not  formally  organized  until  1835,  when  Rev.  Thos. 


Brown  officiated.  Prior  to  that  time  they  attended  church  at 
Tremont,  and  a  Baptist  minister  named  Babcock  preached  here 
occasionall3'. 

The  German  Evangelical  Church  was  organized  in  1854 
and  the  same  j'ear  a  frame  building  was  erected  upon  the  pres- 
ent location.  In  1884  this  was  supplanted  by  the  present  large 
and  commodious  edifice.  Among  the  organizers  of  the  church 
were  Jacob  Zinser,  Peter  and  David  Tobias  and  Sol  Zinser. 
Rev.  Jacob  Schaefle,  an  early  circuit  preacher,  was  the  first 
minister.  The  parsonage  was  built  in  1890.  Membership  at 
present  150,  Sunday  School  160,  Y.  P.  A.  50,  Mission  Band  40 
and  W.  M,  S.  25. 

The  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church— St.  John's 
church — was  organized  in  May,  1869,  in  Sickler's  (  now  Heiple's) 
hall,  by  Rev.  Holtgreve.  August  16,  1869,  the  first  officers  were 
elected  as  follows:  John  Muller  and  Josiah  Snyder  trustees, 
Thomas  Reinholz  and  V.  Simons  deacons  and  Rev.  George 
Schnur  minister.  The  congregation  purchased  the  church 
building  of  the  Christian  Church.  It  was  rebuilt  in  1899  and  a 
tower,  new  seats,  pulpit,  etc.,  added. 

St.  Mark's  Lutheran  church  was  organized  April  26,  1875, 
at  the  home  of  Josiah  Snyder.  The  congregation  had  previous 
to  this  worshipped  with  the  German  Lutheran  church  but  on 
their  voting  to  exclude  the  English  language  the  English 
church  was  organized.  On  Maj'  2,  1875,  Josiah  Snyder  was 
elected  elder,  Henry  Mahle  and  T.  L.  Benford  deacons,  Henry 
Denhart,  Eli  Heiple  and  Elias  Benford  trustees,  and  Rev.  S. 
W.  Harkey  pastor.  A  new  house  of  worship  was  dedicated 
August  26,  1877,  at  a  cost  of  S6.000,  including  the  lot.  The 
church  has  always  been  prosperous  and  has  a  good  working 
and  active  membership.  A  little  over  a  year  ago  the  church 
was  remodeled  and  a  fine  new  pipe  organ  installed  at  an  ex- 
pense of  about  $10,000  The  present  membership  is  275,  Sun- 
day School  200,  and  the  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E,,  the  Missionary  and  Aid 
Societies  have  about  150  members 

The  Catholic  congregation  was  organized  in  1876  under  the 
direction  of  Father  Mayer,  then  priest  of  Black  Partridge. 
At  that  time  a  small  frame  church  was  built  upon  the  present 
site,  the  property'  being  donated  by  Walter  Birket.  In  1895  the 
present  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  a  little  over  $2,800.  It 
is  free  of  debt.  The  church  is  well  furnished  with  all  the  nec- 
essaries and  the  society  is  in  a  flourishing  condition.  The 
present  membership  is  130. 


The  first  funeral  was  that  of  a  child  of  Henson  Thomas. 
It  was  buried  in  the  gravej-ard  on  the  old  'Squire  Baker  farm. 
The  funeral  services  were  performed  by  Rev.  Zaddock  Hall. 
The  first  adult  buried  here  was  a  Mr.  Pembrock,  a  stranger 
who  had  stopped  on  account  of  illness  at  the  residence  of  Wm. 
Heath,  where  he  died. 

The  first  F'hysician,  Dr.  R.  F.  Goodwin  of  Vermont,  located 
here  in  18S2.  He  was  a  successful  Physician  and  also  a  good 
business  man.  He  and  Dr  G.  P.  Wood  were  for  several  years 
partners  in  business  and  were  the  proprietors  of  Goodwin  & 
Wood's  addition  to  Washington.  Dr.  G.  P.  Wood  removed 
here  from  Vermont  in  1835  and  formed  a  business  partnership 
with  Dr.  Goodwin.  They  practiced  their  profession  with 
marked  success.  Dr.  Wood's  history  and  services  are  too  well 
known  to  require  more  than  the  mention  of  his  name.  He  died 
in  1871. 

Dr.  R.  W.  Burton  came  from  Kentucky  and  settled  here  in 
1838.  He  practiced  his  profession  and  also  kept  a  stock  of 
drugs  and  medicines.  His  was  the  first  regular  drug  store 
opened  in  Washington.  He  was  a  good  citizen  and  took  an 
active  part  in  all  of  the  enterprises  undertaken  by  the  citi- 
zens. He  died  here  in  1859  leaving  the  following  children: 
Mrs.  Wells  Andrews,  Mrs.  James  R.  Crane,  Mrs.  John  A.  An- 
drews, Woodson  Burton,  Mrs.  A.  G.  Danforth,  Mrs.  Joe  Sherry, 
Furgison  Burton,  Mrs.  Isa  Andrews,  Mrs.  Sam  Wright. 

The  first  Lawj^er  to  gain  a  footing  in  this  new  community 
was  Thornton  Walker  of  Virginia.  We  know  very  little  of  this 
party  as  to  his  success,  etc. 

In  1829  William  Holland  and  William  Thompson  were  elec- 
ed  to  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  this  precinct.  Thej* 
were  among  the  first  elected  in  this  county.  Their  territorial 
jurisdiction  was  co-extensive  with  the  boundaries  of  the  coun- 
ty which  then  embraced  a  broad  expanse  of  territorj-  east  of 
the  Illinois  river  and  extended  northward  to  Chicago  and 
southward  to  Jacksonville. 

The  first  Constable  elected  was  Jonathan  Hodge  of  Stout's 
Grove, 

The  first  member  of  the  Board  of  Count}-  Commissioners 
from  this  place  was  James  Harvey.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Benjamin  Mitchell.  Prior  to  this  time,  however,  and  while 
this  was  a  part  of  Peoria  county,  William  Holland  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Countj'  Commissioners. 

The  first  land  sales  for  this  district  were  held  in  Spring- 


field in  1830  or  1831.  Prior  to  that  date  no  title  could  be  ac- 
quired to  any  land  in  the  district.  The  settlers,  however,  rec- 
ognized the  justice  of  securing  to  each  of  their  number  the 
benefit  of  his  labor  and  gave  efl'ect  to  this  idea  by  appointing 
one  of  their  number.  Col.  Benjamin  Mitchell,  agent  or  regis- 
trar of  claims.  Bj-  this  arrangement  and  the  paying  of  twenty- 
five  cents  to  the  registrar,  each  applicant  secured  the  registra- 
tion of  his  claim  and  the  right  to  buy  the  land  he  had  improv- 
ed when  it  came  into  the  market.  This  gave  the  lands  a  com- 
mercial value  in  the  hands  of  the  holder  and  also  enabled  the 
person  making  the  claim  to  sell  and  transfer  if  he  so  desired. 
These  claims  soon  became  an  important  item  in  the  limited 
commerce  of  those  early  times. 

One  of  the  prevailing  fashions  was  that  of  carrying  fire 
arms,  made  necessary  by  the  presence  in  the  neighborhood  of 
roving  bands  of  Indians,  most  of  whom  were  ostensibly  friend- 
ly, but  like  Indians  in  all  times,  treacherous  and  unreliable. 
These  tribes  were  principally  Pottawattomies.  There  were 
also  in  the  north  part  some  hostile  Indians  through  whose 
workings  later  on  developed  the  Black  Hawk  and  other  Indian 
Wars. 

The  postage  for  a  single  letter  in  those  earl)'  times  was  25 
cents.  Many  remained  in  the  office  for  some  time  on  account 
of  the  inability  of  the  persons  to  whom  thej'  were  addressed  to 
pay  the  demanded  charges. 

In  1860  Captain  Miles  of  the  Washington  Military  Corn- 
pan)-  was  ordered  to  Pekin  to  protect  John  Ott,  a  young  fellow 
21  years  of  age,  who  had  murdered  the  wife  and  two  little  chil- 
dren of  George  W.  Orendorf  and  through  this  precaution  the 
lynching  was  averted.  This  was  the  second  murder  commit- 
ted in  the  county. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  Supervisors  who  have  served  the 
Township  since  its  organization:  James  W.  Wathen,  1850-51 
Lawson  Holland,  1852-53;  W.  A.  Ross,  1854;  J.  S.  Marsh,  1855-58 
D.  L.  Miles,  1859-60;  Elias  Wenger,  1863;  Richard  C.  Dement 
1864;  John  W.  Dougherty,  1865-66;  Ben  Tobias,  1866-68;  Richard 
D.  Smith,  1869;  Peter  Fifer,  1870;  John  H.  Anthony,  1871-89;  D. 
S.  Sheppard,  1890-91;  Christian  Spring,  1892-95;  C.  L,.  Birkett, 
1896-1905. 

The  first  paper  printed  in  Washington  was  in  1853  by  A.  A. 
Couch  and  Albert  Parker  from  Peoria  and  it  was  called  "The 
Washington  Investigator."  After  two  years  it  ended  its  ca- 
reer and  for   ten  years   we   were    without   a    paper.     Thomas 


Handsaker,  in  July,  1868,  established  "The  Washington  Her- 
ald," which  was  conducted  in  a  manner  creditable  not  only  to 
Mr.  Handsaker  but  also  the  community  and  vicinity.  Mr. 
Handsaker's  death  occurred  some  years  ago  and  the  paper 
ceased  publication. 

On  Nov.  24,  1876,  the  first  number  of  "The  Tazewell  Inde- 
pendent" was  issued  by  H.  A.  Pilaster  and  George  N.  BonDur- 
ant.  Mr.  BonDuranfs  interest  in  the  paper  was  purchased  by 
Mr.  Pilaster  on  the  16th  of  March,  1877.  In  its  first  publica- 
tion it  was  strictly  non-partisan.  Later  on,  about  1878,  the 
paper  was  converted  to  a  republican  paper  and  A.  H.  Heiple, 
the  present  Postmaster  in  Washington,  became  editor  and 
proprietor  and  the  name  was  changed  to  "The  News."  It  is 
now  published  by  F.  B.  Mills. 

"Thk  W.\shington  Post"  was  established  April  9,  1S98,  bj' 
B.  S.  Wright.  May  1,  1899,  the  paper  was  purchased  by  Paul 
R.  Goddard,  who  has  since  been  its  editor  and  publisher.  The 
Post  has  rapidly  forged  to  the  front  until  it  now  has  a  circula- 
tion of  nearly  2,000  copies  and  practically  covers  the  whole 
territory  of  northern  Tazewell  county  and  part  of  Woodford 
county.  It  is  a  seven-column  quarto  all-home  print,  with  an 
East  Peoria  department  and  correspondents  from  all  adjoining 
towns  and  districts.  The  subscription  price  of  Thk  Post  is 
only  $1.00  a  year  when  paid  in  advance,  and  it  is  largely  owing 
to  its  complete  local  reports  and  its  cheap  subscription  price 
that  it  so  completely  covers  the  field. 

One  of  our  early  banks  in  Washington  was  established  in 
1858  under  the  name  of  A.  G.  Danforth  &  Co.,  and  is  the  oldest 
bank  in  Tazewell  county  run  continuously  under  the  same 
firm  name. 

Henrj' Denhart  &  Co.'s  bank  was  established  in  1866  and 
grew  rapidly  under  the  fostering  confidence  bestowed  on  it  by 
the  community. 

The  old  Prairie  State  bank  established  before  1858  had  the 
unique  history  of  being  the  first  and  only  bank  of  issue  in 
the  county  at  that  time. 

The  only  official  records  of  the  town  of  Washington  extant 
today  date  back  to  1839.  When  E.  E.  Heiple  was  elected  clerk 
of  the  city  of  Washington  in  1878  he  received  a  letter  from 
a  relative  of  an  early  settler.  Dr.  Carr,  who  stated  that  he  had 
one  of  the  books  containing  the  early  proceedings  of  the  town 
and  would  send  it  to  him  upon  request.  Mr.  Heiple  wrote  for 
the  document  and  has  since  had  it  in  his  possession.     While  the 


book  of  proceedings  only  contains  a  few  years  of  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  town  it  throws  a  light  on  the  first  organization. 
The  first  date  in  the  book  is  Monday,  August  20,  1838.  Wash- 
ington at  that  time  had  a  town  organization  and  was  governed 
by  a  Town  Board  of  four  Trustees.  The  first  members  of  the 
board,  as  shown  by  this  record,  consisted  of  E.  A.  Whipple,  J. 
Kern,  B.  Allen  and  A.  H.  Danforth.  May  4,  1839,  occurred  an 
election  at  which  James  Brown  was  elected  president  and  Wm. 
G.  Spencer,  George  W.  Danforth,  Peter  Shelly  and  Thomas 
Fish,  trustees.  Thomas  Fish  was  appointed  clerk,  Jacob 
Kern  assessor,  A.  H.  Danforth  collector.  Haven  Pierce  treas- 
urer and  E.  A.  Whipple  .street  commissioner.  At  the  first 
meeting  of  this  board  the  following  resolution  was  passed: 
"Resolved,  That  the  corporation  line  be  extended  a  half-mile 
each  waj-  from  the  center  of  Commercial  Square  so  as  to  con- 
tain one  mile  square.  All  laws  in  relation  to  the  corporation 
boundary  passed  May  5,  1838,  are  hereby  repealed."  At  a 
meeting  held  May  11,  1840,  it  was  ordered  that  a  public  well  be 
dug  in  the  Public  Square  and  that  it  be  walled  with  rock  and  a 
pump  put  in  the  same.  May  7,  1840,  R.  M.  Burton  was  ap- 
pointed clerk  of  the  town  board.  The  last  entry  in  this  book 
of  proceedings  was  on  September  4,  1841.  It  was  ordered  that 
a  fine  be  imposed  on  Sample  and  others  for  discharging  fire 
arms  in  the  Public  Square.  This  record  was  signed  by 
William  Holland  as  president. 

That  closes  the  records  of  Washington  until  the  town  was 
incorporated  under  a  special  act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State 
of  Illinois,  passed  February  10,  1857.  On  March  25,  1857,  the 
Board  of  Trustees  met  and  organized.  All  members  were  pres- 
ent and  were  qualified  by  David  Kyes.  The  first  trustees 
were:  John  L.  Marsh,  R.  B.  M.  Wilson,  James  Smith,  Dan  L. 
Miles  and  Jacob  Sonneman.  John  L.  Marsh  was  elected  first 
president  of  the  board,  R.  C.  Dement  clerk,  Thomas  Cress  con- 
stable, Asa  H.  Danforth  treasurer  and  Thomas  Fish  street 
commissioner. 

James  Smith  offered  the  first  resolution:  "Resolved,  That 
any  person  riding  or  driving  on  anj'  sidewalk  inside  of  the  cor- 
poration of  the  town  of  Washington  shall  pay  a  fine  of  $5.00,  to 
be  collected  before  any  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  use  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  said  town." 

The  board  of  trustees  elected  in  1858  was  Elias  Wenger, 
Ben  Tobias,  Dan  L.  Miles,  Jazer  Sickler  and  Jacob  Sonneman; 
W.  P.  Springate  clerk. 


The  board  elected  March  7,  1859,  was  Ben  Tobias,  John  A. 
Andrews.  Jazer  Sickler,  S.  Y.  Weiser  and  T.  O.  Brown.  T.  O. 
Brown  was  elected  president,  Wm.  Springate  clerk  and  Asa  H. 
Danforth  treasurer.  The  first  dram  shop  ordinance  was  pass- 
ed April  19,  1859,  and  the  first  licenses  were  granted  to  George 
Jacquin,  A.  Vetterhiefer  and  Henrj"  Bartlette,   May  3,  1859. 

September  16,  1859,  Ben  Tobias  and  Jazer  Sickler  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  receive  propositions  to  build  a  jail. 
They  reported  they  could  bu3'  a  lot  for  S175  and  get  a  jail  built 
for  $125.  Report  received.  November  1,  1859,  the  lot  on  Jef- 
ferson street  was  bought  for  $175  and  a  contract  to  build  the 
jail  or  calaboose  was  awarded  to  Jas.  Smith  &  Sons  for  §136. 

The  city  of  Washington  was  organized  and  the  first  elec- 
tion held  April  16,  1878.  Peter  Fifer  was  elected  first  mayor 
and  E.  E.  Heiple  clerk.  The  following  are  the  maj'ors  who 
have  since  been  elected:  Second.  Ben  Tobias.  1879-80; 
third.  L.  S.  North,  1881-82;  fourth,  J.  G.  Gorin.  1883-84;  fifth, 
W.  B.  Harvey.  1885-86;  sixth.  W.  B.  Harvej',  1887-88;  seventh. 
H.  R.  Danforth,  1889-90;  eighth,  G.  W.  Cress,  1891-92;  ninth,  J. 
H.  Anthony,  1893-94;  tenth,  Ben  Tobias,  1895-96;  eleventh,  Ben 
Frederick,  1897-98;  twelveth,  H.  L.  Price,  1899-1900;  thirteenth, 
H.  L.  Price,  1901-02;  fourteenth.  D.  J.  Chaffer.  1903-04;  fif- 
teenth, C.  P.  Cress,  1905-06. 

The  first  council  on  April  18,  1878,  was  Peter  Fifer,  mayor; 
E.  E.  Heiple.  clerk;  John  Dougherty,  attorney';  T.  C.  Sonne- 
man,  treasurer;  aldermen,  Henrj'  Mahle,  Henry  Denhart,  Jas. 
Cameron,  short  term,  one  year;  D.  J.  Chaffer,  Lawson  Holland, 
E.  Rapp.  long  term,  two  j-ears. 

A  contract  was  made  with  G.  C.  Morgan  to  install  the  wat- 
er works  December  22,  1887.  \V.  B.  Harvey  was  the  mayor  of 
the  city. 

A  contract  was  made  with  the  Sun  Electric  Eight  Co.  and 
signed  February  3,  1891.  The  incandescent  lights  boiler  blew 
up  and  destroyed  the  plant  February  4,  1895.  The  plant  was 
then  moved  near  the  depot  in  1891  and  arc  light  installed.  The 
Eagle  Electric  Co.  was  installed  in  1900  with  arc  lights. 

Today  Washington  is  the   model   little  residence  citj'.      It 


has  all  the  modern  conveniences  which  go  to  make  a  happy 
and  contented  lot  of  people.  It  has  a  wealthy  and  progressive 
class  of  citizens.  As  has  been  truthfully  stated  there  are 
more  wealthy  people  residing  here  than  in  cities  many  times 
larger.  Not  only  is  this  true  but  the  people  as  a  whole  are  all 
in  moderate  circumstances. 

The  business  Square  of  Washington  was  paved  with  brick 
in  1903  and  one  j-ear  later  South  Main  street  was  paved  to  the 
corporation  line.  A  contract  has  now  been  let  for  the  paving 
of  the  street  to  the  city  limits  on  the  north.  It  will  not  be 
long  until  the  streets  are  also  paved  to  the  city  limits  east  and 
west.  Gravel  roads  connect  at  the  citj'  limits  and  run  in  the 
four  directions,  the  gravel  road  being  nearlj'  completed  on 
the  west  all  the  way  to  Peoria.  A  fine  water  works  system 
owned  by  the  city,  an  electric  lighting  plant  and  man3'  more 
conveniences  now  add  to  our  comfort.  An  interurban  railroad 
is  soon  to  be  built  from  Peoria  through  Washington  to  connect 
with  Chicago.  We  already  have  three  lines  of  steam  railroads 
which  place  us  in  close  touch  with  the  outside  world  and  af- 
ford competing  freight  rates. 

Picturesque  Washington  is  published  to  show  the  world 
just  what  a  model  little  city  we  have.  The  pictures  are  from 
actual  photographs  and  show  better  than  pages  of  printed 
matter  how  we  look  today.  The  pictures  were  taken  in 
the  winter  time  as  it  would  be  nearly  irapossible^to  do  our  pret- 
ty homes  justice  in  the  summer  time,  as  we  are  blessed  with 
such  an  abundance  of  noble  old  shade  trees  and  shrubbery  that 
they  hide  the  view. 

The  publishers  are  under  obligations  to  the  many  public 
spirited  citizens  who  have  contributed  to  make  the  work  possi- 
ble. While  we  have  been  unable  to  show  all  of  our  pretty 
homes,  yet  we  have  a  good  representation  of  the  citj'  as  a 
whole. 

We  desire  to  give  credit  to  the  late  Mr.  J.  W.  Dougherty, 
for  maii3'  years  an  honored  member  of  the  bar  in  this  city,  for 
many  of  the  facts  compiled  in  regard  to  the  earl3'  histor3-  of 
Washington.  The3'  were  taken  from  a  history  of  the  place 
compiled  by  him  in  1878. 


VIEW  OF  COMMERCIAL  SQUARE  ON  SATURDAY  AFTERNOON 


MAYOR  C.   P.  CRESS 


"'•Valtwv^^ 


■'■-braO'' 


'*//VKEW«''^'' 


SOUTH  MAIN  STREKT,   SHOWING  THE  PAVED  STREET 


B.    WENK 


C.   A.   WALTMIRE 


K.    N.    KU  KMAN 


P.  A.  BIRKETT 


H.   R.  DANFORTH  RESIDENCE 


V 


*~^ 


♦es* 


EX-MAYOR  H.  R.  DANFORTH 


H.   R    Danforth,  Owner.  THE  DANFORTH  HOTEL.  J.  W.  Mohler  &  Son,  Lessees. 


R.  F.  TANTON  RESIDENCE 


WEST  WASHINGTON- 


SHOWING  THE  RAPIDLY  GROWING  RINKENBERGER  ADDITION  ON  THE  LEFT 
THE  NEW  HIGHLAND  PARK  ADDITION  ON  THE  RIGHT 


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JACOB  MILLER 


DR.   W.  H.   WEIRICK 


A.   R.   RICH 


» 

Pfl/          ■ 

GEORGE  HAGENSTOZ 


HENRY  DENHART  RESIDENCE 


HENRY  DENHART  &  CO.  BANK 


HENRY  DENHART 


A.  G.   DANFORTH   RESIDEXCE 


A.  G.   DANFORTH  &  CO.   BANK 


i:<fc-  *<■ 


rjiiwr'    ^¥t  «^«nw     ^ 


A  SCENB  ON  THE  MELBOURNE  STOCK  FARM  OF  A.  G.   DANFORTH  &  SON 


THE  OLD  J.   A.  ANDREWS  HOMESTEAD 


I.   ZIMSER  CO.   BLOCK 


MRS.  I.   ZINSEK  KKSIDKNCE 


ELMER  F.  ZINSER 


H.  D.    HARMS  RESIDENCE 


H.   D.  HARMS 


CHRISTIAN  CHKKCH 


REV.  D.  "W.  MADDEN 


.:.LKN  UALIC  CEJMETERY 


HENRY    ESSER 

GROCERY  AND  BAKERY 

RESIDENCE 


FRANK  S.   HEIPLE  RESIDENCE 


H.  A.  KINGSBURY  RESIDENCE; 


F.  S.   HEIPLE  BLOCK 


A.    H.    HKIPLIC 


HEIPLE  &  KINGSBURY  TENEMENT  HOUSES 


JOHN    HALDERMAN 


W.   E.  THOMAS 


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HENRY    HOPS 


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W.    H.    HAK\i:V    KEsIDKNCK 


HON.   W.   B.  HARVEY 
Ex-Mayor  and  Ex-Member  of    Illinois    Legislature 


MRS.  JENNIE  DAVIS 


MKH.IK.  J.   KEICH 


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MniiJLrer  Washing-ton  City-Rural 

Telephone  Company. 


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DK.   H.   A.   ZINSER  RESIDENCE 


DR.  H.   A.  ZINSER 


ST.   MARK'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  AND   PARSONAGE 


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E.  G.  CHAFFER  &  CO.  HARDWARE  AND  IMPLEMENT  STORE 


Harle3'  Heyl  and 
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David  Harum, 
Famous  Prize 
Winning  Shet- 
land Pony 


GEOKGE   A.   HEYE 


BIRD'S  EYE  VIEW  OF  THE  GEO.   A.   HEYL  SHETLAND  PONY.  POULTRY  AND  HOG  FARM 


GEO.  A.   HEYL  AND  HIS  MATCHED  TEAM  OF  PRIZE  WINNING  SHETLAND  PONIES 


ROEHM  BROS.  &  CO.  SIJOE  STORE 


J.  J.   KOEHM   RESIDENCE 


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EVANGELICAL  CHl'KCH   AND  PARSONAGE 


REV.  F.   F.  JORDAN 


PANOkAMA   VIEW  OF  COMMERCIAL  SQUARE 


L.  J.  DANFORTH 
&  CO.  LUMBER 
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L.  J.  DANFORTH 
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G.  W.  CRESS  RESIDENCE 


HON.  G.   W.  CRESS 
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LAFAYETTE  BIRKETT  RESIDENCE 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 


INTERIOR  VIEW   OF  M.   K    CHIJRCH 


M.   E.  CHURCH  PARSONAGE 


EBERT  &  MULLER  LIVERY  AND  FEED  STABLE 


P^RANK   \V.   MULLER   RESIDENCE 


CHRISTIAN  EBERT  RESIDENCE 


SMITH  &  MOSI.EY  CONCRETE  BLOCK  WORKS 


\VM.   SMITH,  Jr.,   RESIDENCE 
Being  Constructed  of  Concrete  Blocks 


PANORAMA  VIEW  COMMERCIAL  SgUARE  LOOKING  FROM  DENHAKT  CuKXLK 


DR.   W.   A.  GOTT  RESIDENCE 


DR.   W.   A.   GOTT 


CHAS.  R.  WEBSTER 


A.  M.  WEBSTER 


E.  E.  HEIPLE 


DR.  W.  A.  MANSFIELD 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


REV.   I.    A.   CORNELISON,   D.   D. 


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PAL'L    K.    CidUUAKI)    KESIDKXCK 
IN  HIGHLAND  PARK 


HOMlfi  OF  THi.   i'L^- 


PAUL  R.  GODDARD 


THEO.    KdEHM    KESIlUiXCE   IN   HIGHLAND   FAKK 


THEODORE  ROEHM 


INTERIOR  VIEWS  OF  THE  STANDARD  GROCERY 
HTTNGERFORD  &  WRIGHT 


C.   Marquard 
Photographer 


G.   W.   Freese 
Supervisor 
Crug'er  Twp. 
Photographer 


D.   R.   KYES 


THE  WASHINGTON  MILLING  COMPANY 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES 


DR.  A.  ALPHONSO  was  born  in  Germany  March  10.  1858. 
Came  to  Illinois  in  1861,  enlisting  in  1863  as  acting  surgeon  in 
the  17th  Illinois  cavalry  and  serving  one  year.  In  1875  he 
moved  to  Washington  and  opened  the  Alphonso  Drug  Store  so 
familiar  in  our  midst.  Dr.  Alphonso  married  Susan  Cassen  in 
1861  from  which  union  there  are  two  daughters  and  one  son. 
At  his  death  in  I'lOt  his  daughter  Clara  took  the  active  man- 
agement of  the  reorganized  Dr.  Alphonso  Drug  Co.  and  has  met 
with  marked  success. 

WELLS  ANDREWS  and  J.  A.  ANDREWS.  The  former 
was  born  in  Alexandra,  Virginia,  which  at  that  time  was  a  part 
of  the  District  of  Columbia.  Moved  with  his  parents  to  Ohio, 
where,  in  1827,  John  Asa  Andrews  was  born.  Together  with 
their  parents  they  came  to  Tremont,  111.,  moving  to  Washing- 
ton in  18+7.  In  1851  they  bought  the  old  brick  mill,  which  for 
years  was  known  far  and  wide.  In  1855  both  brothers  married. 
Wells  to  Tranquiline  Burton  and  John  Asa  to  MaryTelvaBurton. 
Wells  had  five  children,  namely,  Robert,  Joshua  Harper,  John 
A.,  Chester  and  Nannie.  John  Asa  Andrews  had  six  children, 
namely,  CharlesW.,  James  W,,TelvaB.  Baker,  Margaret  Roehm, 
Jay  and  ^nna  A.  Goddard  The  Andrews  brothers  ran  their  bus- 
iness together  until  death  interfered,  without  a  scratch  of  the 
pen  between  them,  and  while  it  was  not  the  best  business  course 
to  pursue  in  man3-  cases,  in  this  case  it  was  remarkably  suc- 
cessful. Wells  Andrews  died  in  1894  and  John  A.  Andrews  in 
1904,  after  which  one  of  the  heirs,  J.  A.  Andrews,  son  of  Wells, 
took   charge  of   the  mill  and  is  running  it  at  the  present  time. 

GEORGE  W.  BAYLER,  of  Jersey  Lawn  fame,  where  in 
years  past  there  browsed  a  fine  herd  of  prize  winning  Jerseys, 
was  born  at  Washington  in  1842,  in  a  cabin  surrounded  by  hazel 
bushes  on  the  site  of  the  residence  now  occupied  by  Post- 
master Heiple.  Under  the  guidance  of  his  father,  John  Bay- 
ler,  he  became  a  thorough  blacksmith  and  iron  worker,  run- 
ning a  factory  in  the  same  building  now  known  as  Holland 
Bros,  livery  until  1881,  when  he  started  importing  horses  from 
England  and  Scotland  for  the  Melbourne  Stock  Farm,  with 
whom  he  continued  until  1893,  when  he  established  his  present 
barn  of  horses  at  Jersey  Lawn.  He  has  owned  and  kept  many 
valuable    horses   and   cattle   that   have    greatly   improved  the 


standard  of  farm  animals  in  this  vicinity.  In  1890  he  built  his 
fine  home  which  is  well  known  on  account  of  its  hospitality. 
Mr.  Bayler  grew  to  manhood  in  the  days  when  "prairie 
schooners"  were  common  sights,  deer  and  wild  turkeys  were 
plentiful  and  corn  huskings  and  log  rollings  were  pastimes, 
and  when  farmers  hauled  corn  to  Wesley  City  for  10  cents  a 
bushel  and  dressed  hogs  for  51  25  per  hundred.  He  has  gradu- 
ally seen  the  development  from  hamlet  to  city  until  at  last  he 
sees  it  as  represented  bj-  "Picturesque  Washington."  Mr. 
Bayler  married  Mary  L.  Smith  in  1869,  who  died  in  1870.  They 
had  a  son,  Wallace  E.,  now  of  Chicago.  He  was  married  again 
in  1873  to  Isadore  Trimble,  to  whom  a  great  part  of  his  success 
is  due. 

CHARLES  L.  BIRKETT  was  born  iu  the  vicinity  of  Wash- 
ington on  the  farm  so  well  known  as  Birkett's  Dairy,  where  he 
lived  until  reaching  manhood  when  he  started  farming  on  the 
place  known  as  the  Frank  Wright  farm,  which  he  bought  later 
on.  His  father  was  William  Birkett,  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
to  this  locality.  In  1890  he  became  o%vner  of  the  J.  H.  Anthony 
country  homestead,  a  place  better  known  to  Washington  people 
than  many  a  home  actually  in  our  city.  Before  moving  to 
Washington  into  his  fine  new  residence,  he  owned  and  occupied 
the  old  Josiah  Moore  farm  located  about  one  mile  south  of 
town,  an  ideal  country  home.  Mr.  Birkett's  popularity  with 
the  people  is  shown  by  his  continuous  election  as  supervisor 
since  1896,  a  position  which  he  has  successfuUj'  and  honorably 
filled.  He  married  Clnra  C.  Van  Camp  in  1870  and  has  three 
sons  and  one  daughter. 

PERRY  A.  BIRKETT,  our  popular  dairyman,  was  born  at 
the  well  known  Birkett  dairy  farm  where  he  attended  school 
and  grew  up  in  the  dairy  business,  gradually-  mastering  every 
detail  and  becoming  so  thorough  as  to  be  known  as  an  expert 
in  his  line.  In  1890  he  took  full  charge  as  owner  of  the  dairy 
and  has  developed  a  dairy  business  here  larger  by  double  than 
any  one  before  him.  The  substantial  home  he  now  occupies 
was  rebuilt  and  modernized  in  1902,  and  is  one  of  our  most  hos- 
pitable homes.  Good  butter,  cream  and  milk  bring  good  dol- 
lars, if  a  400-acre  Nebraska  farm  and  a  good  Illinois  farm  are 
any  criterions.  Mr.  Birkett  married  Emma  V.  Thomas  in  1882. 
Thev  have  two  daughters  and  one  son. 


LAFAYETTE  BIRKETT  is  probably  the  most  active  re- 
tired fanner  in  our  conimuiiitj'.  His  parents  were  aniong^  our 
earliest  settlers  and  established  the  well  known  Birkett  dairy 
farm  where  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born,  educated  and 
grew  to  manhood.  He  followed  the  occupation  of  farming, 
confining  himself  mostly  to  stock  raising:  besides  was  a 
shrewd,  successful  speculator  in  real  estate,  his  success  being 
attested  to  by  the  numerous  farms  which  he  owns  in  Illinois, 
Indiana  and  elsewhere.  He  has  always  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  Methodist  church,  is  a  consistent  member 
and  has  been  trustee  for  the  past  six  years.  In  1896  he  bought 
the  old  Bassett  place,  which  he  rebuilt  and  modernized,  then 
sold  it  and  in  lys  built  the  beautiful  home  he  now  occupies  on 
Jefferson  street.  Mr.  Birkett  married  Helen  Mooberry  of 
Groveland.  Illinois,  in  1871.   They  have  two  daughters  and  a  son. 

ELIJAH  G.  CHAFFER,  our  hardware  merchant  in  his 
three  front  store,  carries  one  of  the  largest  hardware  and  im- 
plement stocks  in  Central  Illinois  and  enjoys  a  trade  in  pn^por- 
tion.  A  great  part  of  his  time  is  taken  up  looking  after  his 
farm  lands  in  Utah  and  his  mining  property  in  California  and 
Utah  Mr.  Chaffer  was  born  in  Deer  Creek  in  18.^0  and  now 
makes  Boulder,  Colo.,  his  home.  He  was  married  in  1871  and 
has  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  Harley,  the  older  son,  has  the 
management  of  the  business  here  which  he  gives  close  attention. 
Harley  Chaffer  was  born  in  Deer  Creek,  attended  the  Universi- 
ty of  Minnesota,  also  played  left  guard  on  the  basket  ball  team 
at  a  time  when  the  team  was  champion  of  Minnesota.  Married 
Mary  Stormer  in  1903  and  has  two  sons. 

C.  P.  CRESS,  mayor  of  Washington,  was  born  in  Worth 
township,  three  miles  north  of  Washington,  February  2,  185V 
He  lived  on  the  farm  until  1892  when  he  moved  to  Wash- 
ington. His  father,  Andrew  Cress,  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  to  this  locality,  coming  here  from  Virginia  in 
1833.  He  homesteaded  and  paid  the  government  SI. 25  an 
acre  for  the  farm  now  owned  by  our  inaj'or.  Mr.  Cress  has 
held  many  positions  of  public  trust,  assessor,  school  director, 
alderman,  and  April,  19U5,  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city. 
He  has  been  successful  as  a  business  man  and  besides  owning 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  Central  Illinois  he  also  owns  lands  and 
propertj'  in  other  states,  also  his  fine  home  in  this  city.  In 
1874  he  married  Elizabeth  Baker  and  the}'  have  two  daughters, 
Mr?.  Paul  W.  Busse  and  Mrs.  E,  A.  Morrow. 


GEORGE  W.  CRESS,  popular  citizen  and  horseman,  was 
born  in  1846.  On  reaching  manhood  he  followed  stock  raising 
and  farming  until  1881,  when  with  his  brothers  he  moved 
to  Washington  and  erected  large  barns  and  began  importing 
horses  from  England,  France  and  Scotland,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Cress  Bros.,  which  business  they  continued  until  1891, 
when  they  dissolved  and  G.  W.  continued  the  business.  Mr, 
Cress  was  elected  to  nearly  every  important  otfice  in  the  town- 
ship, being  alderman  several  terms,  member  of  board  of  edu- 
cation and  president  of  board,  tax  collector,  supervisor,,  also 
the  highest  honor  within  the  gift  of  the  people — mayor  of  our 
city.  Besides  he  was  elected  county  treasurer  in  1898,  serving 
four  years,  after  which  he  again  engaged  in  the  horse  business 
and  also  in  hatidling  real  estate.  Mr  Cress  is  a  genial,  whole- 
souled  fellow  and  good  to  meet  at  any  time.  He  married  Celia 
A.  Thompson  and  has  three  daughters. 

CLYDE  M.  DUNNINGTON  was  born  in  Atlanta,  Mo.,  and 
moved  to  Washington  in  1880,  where  he  received  his  education 
and  grew  to  manhood.  In  1894  he  entered  H.  Denhart  &  Co. 's 
bank  as  messenger  boj-,  gradually'  working  up  until  today  he 
fills  the  enviable  position  of  head  book-keeper.  In  1900  Mr. 
Dunnington  took  up  life  and  fire  insurance,  in  which  he  has 
been  very  successful.  As  a  city  we  take  a  pride  in  our  boys 
and  watch  them  as  they  gradually  round  out  their  destiny, 
and  certainly  gladly  note  Clyde's  success. 

L.  J.  DANFURTH,  the  lumberman,  was  born  in  Deer 
Creek  and  on  growing  to  manhood  farmed  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  that  part  of  the  country.  He  was  school  treasurer  of 
Deer  Creek  township  for  a  great  many  years.  Some  years  ago 
with  F.  L.  Belsly  and  his  brother,  James  A.,  he  became  inter- 
ested in  the  Deer  Creek  bank,  and  in  1903  bought  the  H.  Den- 
hart &  Co. 's  lumber  yards,  at  which  time  he  settled  in  our 
midst.  He  is  a  progressive,  successful  business  man  and  has 
brought  the  lumber  yard  up  to  modern  ideas.  Besides  480  acres 
in  South  Dakota  he  has  a  lot  of  good  Illinois  soil.  Mr.  Dan- 
forth  married  Julia  Kingsbury  in  1883.  Two  sons  and  four 
daughters  were  born  to  this  union. 

MRS.  ROBERT  DAVIS,  formerly  Jennie  M.  Kirk,  is  best 
known  to  us  as  a  teacher  in  our  public  schools  for  many  years 
and  through  her  marriage  to  Robert  Davis  in  1894,  T.,  P.  &  W. 
agent  here  from  18  4  until  his  death  in  1901.  Mr.  Davis  was 
born  in  Larne,  Ireland,  in  1851;  came  to  Illinois  in  1870,  moving 


to  WasliiiifTton  in  1874.  He  was  genial,  good  natured  and  pop- 
ular with  the  people;  he  served  as  alderman  for  a  great  many 
terms,  besides  was  treasurer  of  the  lodges  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
Taylor  98  and  Tazewell  chapter  199,  R.  A.  M..  holding  these 
positions  at  his  death.  They  built  the  fine  home  Mrs.  Davis 
now  occupies  on  Peoria  street  in   1894. 

A  G.  DANFORTH,  banker  and  horseman,  was  born  in 
Washington  in  1840,  receiving  his  education  in  the  home 
schools,  Eureka  College  and  Knox  College,  Galesburg.  In 
1857  he  was  made  cashier  of  the  Prairie  State  bank  which  po- 
sition he  held  until  1862  when  he  went  into  the  mercantile 
business,  as  member  of  the  firm  of  A.  H.  Danforth  &  Co.  In 
1872  the  banking  firm  of  Danforth,  Snow  &  Co.  was  organized. 
Three  years  later  Mr.  Snow  withdrew  and  A.  G.  Danforth  con- 
tinued the  business  under  the  firm  name  of  A.  G.  Danforth  & 
Co.  Mr.  Danforth  as  a  breeder  of  fine  horses  has  a  reputation 
which  fully  justifies  the  1,200  acres  of  good  Illinois  soil  and 
immense  expenditures  given  to  this  branch  of  his  business. 
Years  ago  Fairy  Gift  was  a  household  word  and  more  lately  St. 
Vincent  and  Little  Louise,  2:10'4,  were  identified  with  this 
farm.  Mr.  Danforth  has  a  fine  home  on  South  Main  street  on 
the  same  spot  where  Wm.  Holland,  our  earliest  pioneer,  erected 
his  log  cabin  in  1825.  Mr.  Danforth  was  married  to  Susan  A. 
Burton  in  1861.  They  have  six  children,  George  C. ;  Jessie, 
wife  of  Homer  W.  McCoy  of  Chicago;  Catherine  A.,  wife  of  G. 
B.  Franks,  Peoria;  Asa  H. ;  Mary  D.,  wife  of  George  M.  Stim- 
son,  and  Helen. 

HENRY  R.  DANFORTH,  banker  and  expert  farmer,  is  a 
native  of  our  city,  being  born  here  in  1842,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation at  the  public  schools  with  a  course  at  Lombard  College, 
Galesburg,  Illinois.  Always  shrewd  and  successful,  on  having 
his  attention  called  to  the  swamp  lands  of  Iroquois  county  it 
did  not  take  him  long  to  recognize  the  immense  possibilities 
there  and  in  1865  immediately  acquired  all  of  these  lands  he 
could  possibl}'  get  control  of,  and  through  practical  and  scien- 
tific drainage  reclaimed  and  put  a  value  on  them  undreamed 
of  by  most  men.  Wealth  acquired  through  such  activity  and 
daring  is  certainly  earned  and  worthy  people's  applause.  Mr. 
Danforth  built  the  Danforth  Hotel  and  to  show  their  apprecia- 
tion the  people  unanimously  elected  him  mayor,  the  highest 
honor  our  city  can  bestow.  Together  with  his  uncle,  Geo.  W. 
Danforth,  he  built  the  town  of   Danforth,   111.      He   also   owned 


and  conducted  a  banking  business  there.  In  1884,  the  family 
returned  to  Washington  where  Mr.  Danforth  retired  from 
active  labor.  Mr.  Danforth  married  Mary  E.  Wenger  of  (Oil- 
man, 111.,  and  of  this  union  three  children  are  living,  Josephine, 
now  Mrs.  C.  V.  Miles,  Herman  W.,  a  lawyer  of  Peoria,  and 
Elizabeth  Sarah. 

HENRY  DENHART,  prominent  banker  and  churchman, 
was  born  in  Germany  in  1842,  living  there  until  eleven  years 
of  age  when  he  came  to  the  United  States,  locating  in  Wash- 
ington in  1853.  He  received  his  early  education  at  our  public 
schools  after  which  he  followed  various  occupations  up  to  1866 
when  he  and  Chas.  E.  Anthony  opened  a  dry  goods  business 
under  the  firm  name  of  Anthony  &  Denhart.  They  continued 
in  business  until  1885  when  Mr.  Denhart  assumed  full  control 
and  management  of  the  reorganized  H.  Denhart  &  Co.  dry 
goods  business.  He  afterward  sold  this  business  and  bought 
the  J.  C.  Kimble  lumber  yards  which  he  operated  until  1903.  In 
1867  Chas.  E.  Anthony  and  Henry  Denhart  organized  the  bank 
of  Anthony  &  Denhart,  continuing  until  1885  when  Mr.  An- 
thony retired,  leaving  Mr.  Denhart  with  a  responsibility  which 
he  has  met  most  successfully.  Mr.  Denhart  deserves  special 
mention  on  his  church  work.  He  is  a  strong  Lutheran,  sincere 
and  consistent  and  is  always  ready  and  willing  to  do  anything 
to  help  better  this  good  cause.  His  ability  is  substantially  at- 
tested to  by  20,000  acres  of  land  in  Louisiana  as  well  as  im- 
mense holdings  in  Illinois  and  Iowa.  Political  offices  do  not 
appeal  to  Mr.  Denhart  and  with  the  exception  of  being  a 
councilman  in  1877  he  has  not  held  office.  He  married  Clara 
S.  Lawson  in  1872  and  they  occupy  the  beautiful  home 
on  South  Main  street  which  adds  so  much  to  the  beauty  of 
our  city. 

HENRY  ESSER,  one  of  our  successful  merchants,  was 
born  in  Alsace,  Germanj',  and  moved  to  Washington  in  1886. 
At  a  young  age  he  became  identified  with  the  grocery  business 
as  clerk;  always  pleasant  and  ever  ready  to  serve  the  people 
he  attended  strictly  to  business,  so  when  he  opened  his  present 
large  store  in  19(i2  all  prophesied  it  would  be  a  success  from 
the  very  first;  his  rushing  business  of  today  justifies  that 
prophecy.  Mr.  Esser  bought  and  located  in  his  present  home 
in  1905  and  has  a  fine  and  prominent  site.  He  married  Hattie 
Moehl  in  1904. 


CHRISTIAN  EBERT  was  born  in  Roberts,  Fulton  County, 
Illinois,  anil  moved  to  Washing^ton  where  with  his  brother  they 
forn^ed  the  tirni  of  Ebert  Bros.,  well  dig-ging  outfit,  which  line 
they  followed  successful!}'  for  a  good  manj'  j-ears.  In  190S 
Mr.  Ebert  and  Mr.  Frank  Muller,  under  the  firm  name  of  Ebert 
&  Muller,  bought  the  Berney  livery  barn,  which  through  addi- 
tional buildings  and  general  renovating  they  have  developed 
into  one  of  the  best  livery  and  feed  stables  in  Central  Illinois. 
Mr.  Ebert  was  married  to  Matilda  Bertha  Keil  in  1896  and  has 
three  sons  and  two  daughters. 

REV.  E.  VONFREEUEN  was  born  in  Norden,  Germany, 
in  1831,  where  he  attended  school  and  received  the  greater 
part  of  his  education.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1848.  settling  at 
Holland's  Grove.  In  18,57  he  became  identified  with  the  Ger- 
man Evangelical  church  and  served  his  first  congregation  as 
regular  minister  at  Perkin's  Grove  in  18,58,  after  which  he  suc- 
cessfully filled  a  big  majority  of  the  main  charges,  including 
Chicago.  Barrington,  Aurora,  Kankakee,  Peoria,  Geneseo  and 
Elgin.  He  was  a  hard  worker  at  the  conference  and  filled  all 
the  dififereiit  offices  at  various  times,  serving  on  the  board  of 
trustees  for  years,  besides  being  secretary  of  the  Conference 
Missionary  Society  for  fifteen  years.  Rev.  von  Freeden  moved 
to  Washington  in  1892  and  built  the  beautiful  cottage  the}'  now 
occupy  in  1893  He  married  Madaline  Jantzi  in  18,56  and  have 
two  children,  Henry  William  and  Edna. 

DR.  W.  A.  GOTT,  our  popular  and  successful  physician, 
was  born  in  Louisville,  Kentuck}',  coming  to  Washington  with 
his  parents  in  1883.  He  attended  our  public  schools,  graduat- 
ing with  the  class  of  1895,  then  went  to  Chicago  where  he 
studied  medicine  and  graduated  with  the  class  of  1901.  Dr. 
Gott  is  a  home  product  and  Washington  takes  considerable 
pride  in  watching  his  successful  development.  The  fine  prac- 
tice he  enjoys  today  is  the  result  of  conscientious  attention  to 
his  work,  backed  bj'  a  thorough  understanding  of  his  profes- 
sion. He  bought  the  Wm.  Birkett  homestead  Januarj'  1,  1906. 
which  he  rebuilt  and  improved,  making  a  fine  modern  home  of 
it.  Dr.  Gott  married  Olivia  Berney  in  1902  They  have  one 
daughter. 

J.  R.  GOTT,  our  well  known  railroad  man,  was  born  in 
Montgomery  County,  Indiana,  and  moved  to  Washington  in 
1883.  He  bought  the  home  he  now  occupies  in  1891  and  has  a 
fine  location.  Mr.  Gott  has  been  identilied  with  the  T.,  P.  & 
W.  railroad  for  vears  and  in  1887,  in  recognition  of   his   valued 


services,  he  was  promoted  to  the  lucrative  position  of  Superin- 
tendent of  Bridges  and  Buildings  of  the  East  Division,  a  posi- 
tion which  he  holds  successfully  today.  Married  in  1876.  He 
has  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  Dr  W.  A.  Gott  is  the  oldest  son 
and  Charles  holds  a  fine  position  with  the  engineering  depart- 
ment of  the  C.  &  E.  I.  railroad. 

EMANUEL  GARBER,  the  popular  real  estate  dealer, 
was  born  near  Pekin  and  moved  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington 
in  1874,  later  on  attending  the  Washington  High  School,  also 
State  University  of  Champaign,  but  not  completing  a  full 
course  in  the  latter.  He  married  Ida  Birkett  in  18't7  at  which 
time  he  came  to  our  city,  buying  the  old  Witte  bakery,  in 
which  he  continued  until  1900  when  with  Mr.  L.  Wehner  he 
bought  the  Chapman  &  Kingsbury  grocery.  This  business  was 
sold  by  Mr.  Garberon  opening  the  Birkett  &  Garber  Realty  Co., 
in  which  he  has  been  very  successful.  In  1904  this  firm  opened 
Highland  Park  Addition,  consisting  of  60  acres  and  with  the 
interurban  prospects  realized  will  make  them  a  little  fortune. 
He  was  elected  alderman  in  1903,  besides  having  served  on  the 
democratic  city  committee  and  often  as  delegate  to  the  county 
conventions.  His  family  consists  of  two  daughters,  Mildred 
Frances  and  Helen  Miriam. 

PAUL  R.  GODDARD,  editor  of  Thk  W.^shingto.n  Post, 
was  born  in  Monroe  Count}',  N.  Y.  When  a  boy  he  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Iowa  where  he  commenced  to  learn  the  printing 
business  when  13  years  of  age.  He  served  his  time  as  appren- 
tice and  was  admitted  to  the  International  Typographical 
Union  in  1884.  When  20  years  of  age  in  company  with  his 
brother  they  purchased  the  Sioux  Falls  Daily  Argus-Leader 
which  they  conducted  for  a  number  of  years  While  still  pub- 
lishing this  paper  Mr.  Goddard  went  to  Pierre,  S.  D.,  where  he 
founded  the  Pierre  Daily  Capital  and  ran  the  same  success- 
fully for  several  years.  In  1894  he  sold  his  interests  in 
the  west  and  came  to  Illinois  where  he  engaged  in  newspaper 
work  until  1899  when  he  came  to  Washington  and  purchased 
Thk  Post.  July  16,  1902,  he  married  Anna  A.  Andrews  and  they 
have  one  daughter. 

FRANK  B.  HUNGBRFORD.  one  of  our  promising  young 
merchants,  was  born  near  Rutland.  Illinois,  where  he  passed 
his  younger  days  and  received  his  education.  Later  on  he 
followed  that  healthful  and  independent  occupation,  farming, 
in  which  he  successfully  continued  until  1905,  when  with  I.  J. 
Wright  he  opened  the  Standard  grocery  store  which  firui  is  en- 


joyiiig^  a  fine  trade  in  this  community.  Mr.  Hung-erford  mar- 
ried Melissa  Smith,  daughter  of  W.  H.  Smith.  They  have  one 
daughter. 

H.  D.  HARMS,  banker  and  real  estate  dealer  in  larg-e 
tracts  and  timber  lands,  was  bcrn  in  Washington  where  he  re- 
ceived his  education,  spent  his  boyhood  days  and  grew  to 
manhood.  In  1886  he  entered  the  banking  house  of  U.  Denhart 
A  Co.,  where  he  gradually  so  successfully  mastered  the  detail 
as  to  attract  his  uncle,  Henry  Denharfs,  attention,  who  organ- 
ized and  opened  a  bank  at  Roanoke,  111.,  with  Heury  and  his 
brother  Louis  as  partners  which  under  their  management  be- 
came a  power  in  its  locality.  Later  on  Henry  gave  over  the 
management  of  the  bank  proper  to  Louis  and  took  up  the  out- 
side real  estate  department  Here  we  see  him  at  his  best. 
With  Cole  of  Chicago  they  have  swung  large  tracts  of  real 
estate,  both  farming  and  timber,  until  today,  although  young 
men,  they  have  independent  fortunes  and  are  certainly  self- 
made  men.  Mr.  Harms  is  a  good  fellow,  well  met— philanthrop- 
ic, public  spirited  and  a  good  citizen.  He  has  a  fine  home  on 
South  Main  street,  grandly  furnished,  where  hospitality  is 
shown  properly.     He  married  Josephine  Chaflr'er  in  1900. 

GEORGE  A.  HEYL  is  without  doubt  one  of  the  best 
known  and  most  extensive  breeders,  dealers  and  exhibitors  of 
fancy  stock  and  fowls  in  the  great  state  of  Illinois.  He  was 
bornon  a  farm  in  Mason  County,  where  he  grew  up  and  with 
his  father  followed  fancy  stock  raising  until  1891,  when  he 
moved  to  Washington  and  began  an  independent  career  with 
marked  success.  In  1894  he  made  exhibits  at  the  State  Fair 
and  three  poultry  shows,  receiving  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  fir? t  and  seventeen  second  premiums.  He  has  thirty-two 
varieties  of  the  finest  land  and  water  fowls  known  in  America. 
His  herd  of  swine  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  in  the  state,  be- 
ing headed  by  that  great  patriarch.  Black  Chief's  Rival,  be- 
sides Young  Chief  Perfection,  At  difl-'erent  public  sales  his 
hogs  have  averaged  S75,  SlOO  andS120,  suprisingly  high  prices. 
Mr.  HevTs  big  herd  of  Shetland  ponies,  headed  by  David  Har- 
um  (4146),  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  and  profitable  parts  of 
his  farm,  in  fact  the  enviable  reputation  enjoyed  by  Mr  Heyl 
is  greatly  due  to  this  herd.  Some  years  ago  he  was  honored  as 
an  instructor  on  fancv  stock  at  the  Agricultural  Experiment 
Station  of  Iowa,  andhas  also  frequently  served  as  judge  at 
diiferent  fairs,  showing  that  his  expert  knowledge  and  thor- 
ough   business    methods    are    appreciated    by    those    whom  he 


meets  in  his  business  life.      Mr.  Heyl  married  Sarah    E.    Blum- 
enshine  and  has  three  children,  two  daughters  and  one  son. 

FRANK  W.  HOPS,  the  popular  cashier  at  Henry  Denhart 
&  Co.,  bankers,  was  born  in  Peoria,  111.,  moving  with  his  par- 
ents to  Washington  in  1874,  where  he  received  the  greater  part 
of  his  schooling  and  grew  to  manhood.  In  March,  1882,  he  be- 
came identified  with  H.  Denhart  &  Co.,  gradually  working  up 
until  today  as  cashier  and  confidential  man,  combined  with  his 
popularity,  he  stands  as  part  of  the  assets  of  the  bank.  His 
integrity  and  strict  attention  to  business,  developed  from  a 
strong  character,  has  won  for  him:  and  coming  youngsters  can 
well  profit  by  his  success.  Mr.  Hops  in  1890  married  Carrie 
B  Voorhees,  who  died  in  1900,  He  has  one  son,  Donald.  He 
built  the  beautiful  home  now  occupied  by  H.  D.  Harms  in  1896, 
living  there  until  his  wife's  death.  He  was  city  clerk  from 
1886-88.  His  success  is  partly  attested  to  by  farms  in  Iowa  and 
Nebraska  and  other  investments. 

A.  H.  HEIPLE,  our  popular  postmaster,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  moved  to  Washington  in  1857.  He  has  been 
prominent  in  politics  many  years  but  became  active  in  1878  on 
becoming  identified  with  the  Washington  News,  which  paper 
he  owned  and  edited  for  twenty-five  years.  Mr.  Heiple  at  pres- 
ent is  Tazewell  County  member  of  the  congressional  commit- 
tee, also  a  member  of  the  county  and  township  committees.  In 
1897  he  was  appointed  postmaster  which  position  he  has  filled 
so  as  to  receive  special  mention  from  the  government.  In 
1896  he  bought  and  rebuilt  the  home  which  he  now  occupies. 
Mr.  Heiple  married  Florence  Kingsbury  in  1884.  They  have  a 
son  and  daughter. 

JOHN  C.  HALDERMAN,  son  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Halderman 
and  Mrs.  Philecta  M.  (Griswold)  Halderman,  the  popular 
pastor  and  his  wife  who  so  pleasantly  and  successfully  served 
the  St.  Mark's  Lutheran  church  from  1883  to  1887,  both  spiritu- 
ally and  musically,  vras  born  in  Lancaster,  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
ceived the  greater  part  of  his  education  and  spent  most  of  his 
boyhood  days.  On  reaching  manhood  he  became  idetitified 
with  newspaper  work  in  New  York  City,  Lancaster  and  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  which  he  followed  with  marked  success  up  to  his 
father's  death  when  he  entered  the  banking  business  in  Ne- 
braska, and  later,  in  1903,  came  to  H.  Denhart  &  Co.,  bankers, 
of  our  city  His  genial  disposition  is  always  on  deposit  and 
pays  a  good  interest  to  those  coming  in  contact.  Mr.  Halder- 
man married  Mabel  Riley  in  1902. 


HEXRV  HOPS,  our  well  known  tailor,  was  born  in  Germany 
in  1S34.  moved  to  Peoria  in  185(1  and  to  Washington  in  1S74,  where 
he  formed  the  partnership  of  Hops  &  Schwarzenliolz.  which  for 
years  enjo_\ed  an  envious  reputation.  At  the  death  of  Mr.  Sehwarz- 
enholz.  the  subject  of  our  sketch  assumed  control  of  tin-  business. 
Mr.  Hops  was  married  at  Peoria  in  1858  and  the\  have  a  family 
consisting  of  Elizabeth,   Henry.  Frank  and   George. 

GRANT  HORNISH  first  attracts  our  attention  when  at  13 
years  of  age,  he  started  clerking  for  his  father  at  the  old  Hornish 
corner.  In  1890  he  organized  and  was  active  pirtner  of  the  firm 
of  Hornish  Bros.  &  Co.,  until  a  few  years  ago.  when  the  business 
was  discontinued  entirely.  His  thrift  was  rewarde  1  with  farms  in 
Kansas  and  Iowa,  besides  other  property  in  Port  .\rtlnir  and  here 
at  home.  Grant  is  strictly  a  native  son,  not  only  bjing  born  at 
Washington,  but  marrying  a  Washington  daughter,  Florence  Kern, 
in  1883.  They  have  the  following  children  :  Beulah  K.,  Grace  and 
Kern  McLean. 

GEORGE  HAGENSTOZ,  a  retired  farmer,  was  born  in  Fon- 
dulac  Townsliip  and  moved  to  a  farm  two  miles  northwest  of  town 
in  1886.  This  farm  under  his  management  developed  into  one  of 
the  best  farms  in  this  part  of  the  country  and  Mr.  Hagenstoz  has 
proven  himself  one  of  our  most  industrious  and  successful  farmers. 
In  1904  he  built  tiie  beautiful  home  on  West  Jefferson  which  he  now 
occupies  with  his  family,  consisting  of  wife,  five  girls  and  one  son. 
He  was  married  in  1879. 

WESLEY  B.  HARVEY,  prominent  citizen  and  churchman,  was 
born  in  Newark,  Ohio,  in  1824.  When  4  years  of  age  he  came  with 
his  parents,  James  and  Mary  Ann  (Binningsley)  Harvey,  early  pio- 
neers to  Tazewell  County,  locating  within  one  and  one-half  miles 
of  Washington.  On  growing  to  manhood  he  owned  and  farmed 
a  place  in  Deer  Creek  Township  until  1858,  when  he  sold  the  farm 
and  moved  to  Washington.  He  has  always  been  highly  respected 
as  a  citizen  and  has  been  honored  by  the  people  with  th..-  offices  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  twenty  years ;  Supervisor  for  ten  years ; 
mayor  two  terms;  and  in  1880  was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of 
the  Legislature,  serving  two  years.  But  the  highest  honor,  of  whicli 
he  can  well  be  proud,  is  forty-five  years  as  chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  M.  E.  church.  Mr.  Harvey  married  Eliza  Barrett 
of   Mt.    \'ernon,    111,,   who   died   in    1891.      In    1892   he   was   united   in 


marriage  at  Eureka  to   .Mrs.   Nancy    (Forbes)    Sheppard,   widow  of 
I'r.  R.   H.  Sheppard. 

1-'R.\NK  S.  IIEIPLE.  our  well  known  real  estate  dealer,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  and  moved  to  Washington  in  1857.  He  at- 
tended Carthage  college,  being  a  member  of  the  college  band,  and 
later  on  Ijelonged  to  the  old  Washington  band,  .so  well  known  in  this 
section  for  ye.irs.  He  was  active  partner  of  the  old  Heiple  &  Port- 
man  mercantile  firm,  which  for  years  was  so  successful  in  our  midst 
.Mr.  Heiple  started  in  the  real  estate  business  in  1888,  besides  from 
1890  on  did  a  specially  good  paying  insurance  business.  In  1899  h.- 
reorganized  here  under  the  firm  name  of  Heiple  &  Kingsbury  and 
as  Heiple,  Kingsbury  &  Carr  in  Sion.x  Falls,  South  Dakota,  which 
firms  enjoyed  a  tremendous  business  in  the  South  Dakota  field. 
Heiple  &  Kingsbury  bought  the  old  Schertz  bank  at  Metamora  in 
1902.  Mr.  Heiple  is  interested  in  real  estate  in  several  states  and 
is  counted  one  of  our  most  successful  citizens.  He  has  been  school 
treasurer  for  several  years.  He  married  Maud  Crane  in  1880  and 
has  six  sons  and  four  daughters. 

ELI  E.  HEIPLE  was  born  in  Pemisylvania  in  1830,  where  he 
received  his  education  and  his  early  business  training.  He  came  to 
Washington  in  1857,  accepting  a  position  with  Andrews,  Miles  & 
Co.,  which  he  held  for  seven  years,  then  was  with  Anthony  &  Den- 
hart  for  two  years.  In  1867  he  bjcame  identified  with  the  grain, 
coal  and  stock  business,  establishing  a  reputation  which  has  made 
it  possible  for  Iiim  to  continue  successfullv  ever  since.  Mr.  Heiple 
has  always  been  prominent  in  our  city's  development,  was  our  first 
city  clerk,  b.eing  elected  in  1877,  and  for  thirty  years  held  the  offices 
of  town  clerk  and  town  assessor.  He  built  his  present  home  in  18 — . 
Mr.  Heiple  married  Mary  E.  Snyder  in  1850.  who  died  in  1886. 
leaving  two  sons.     He  married  Charlotte  E.  Mahle  in   1S88. 

HARLAN  A.  KINGSBURY,  well  known  citizen  and  real  estate 
dealer,  was  born  in  Washington,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since, 
receiving  his  education  at  our  public  schools  and  Eureka  college. 
In  188S  he  accepted  a  position  as  traveling  salesman  with  a  Chicago 
wholesale  house,  which  he  filled  most  successfully  until  1896  when 
he  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  Chapman  groccrv  store,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Chapman  &  Kingsbury.  Mr.  Kingfburv  entered  the 
real  estate  business  with  F.  S.  Heiple  in  1S99  and  as  Heiple  &■ 
Kingsburv  here  and  Heiple.  Kingsbury  &  Carr.  Sioux  Falls,  South 
D.ikota.  enjoyed  a  decidedly  successful  business.     In   1903  Heiple  & 


Kingsbury  added  the  Metamora  bank  to  their  interests  and  have 
estabhshed  a  fine  reputation  as  bankers  in  their  community.  Mr. 
Kingsbury  built  the  beautiful  home  he  now  occupies  in  1903.  His 
business  success  is  substantially  shown  by  the  good  farms  and  large 
acreages  he  owns  in  Illinois  and  other  states.  He  married  Clara 
Kern  in  1885. 

D.  R.  KYES,  our  ex-marshal,  was  born  in  Washington,  where 
he  attended  school  and  resided  until  1880.  when  he  went  east,  enter- 
ing the  employ  of  the  Keystone  Steel  Bridge  &  Building  Company  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  following  the  steel  structural  business  until  18S5,  at 
which  time  he  was  transferred  to  the  B.  &  O.  Railroad  Co.  of  Phila- 
delphia, taking  charge  of  the  steel  draw  bridges  running  from  Balti- 
more, Washington,  D.  C,  and  New  York  City  to  Philadelphia,  mak- 
ing Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  his  home  the  greater  part  of  the  time.  In  1895 
he  resigned  his  position  and  moved  to  Everett,  Washington,  and  in 
i8g8  to  Washington,  111.  In  1899  he  left  for  the  Klondyke  gold  fields 
and  met  with  marked  success  until  through  an  accident  he  lost  the 
use  of  his  left  arm,  which  necessitated  a  rest  and  he  returned  to 
Washington.  Mr.  Kyes  was  appointed  city  marshal  by  Mayor 
Chaffer  in  1903,  a  position  which  he  filled  most  admirably.  In  1905 
he  returned  to  the  Pacific  coast  and  at  the  present  time  is  employed 
by  the  Justice  Gold  Mining  Co.,  Monte  Cristo,  Utah.  Mr.  Kyes 
was  married  to  Clara  R.  Doyle  in  1900  and  they  have  an  interesting 
family  of  five  girls  and  one  boy.  They  occupy  the  cozy  new  home 
built  by  them  a  few  years  ago. 

FRANK  W.  MULLER,  our  prominent  young  farmer,  was 
born  on  a  farm  one  mile  west  of  Washington.  He  attended  our 
public  school,  after  which  he  followed  farming,  having  thoroughly 
learned  this  business  from  his  father,  a  practical  farmer.  Mr. 
Muller  also  buys  and  sells  western  horses  by  the  carload  and  has 
been  very  successful.  In  1905  with  Chris  Ebert  he  bought  the 
Berney  livery  barn,  one  of  the  best  locations  in  Central  Illinois, 
and  through  rebuilding  and  new  equipments,  has  made  it  a  model 
livery.  He  built  the  new  country  home  on  the  outskirts  of  West 
JefTerson  street  in  1900.  Mr.  Muller  married  Ethel  Minch  in  1901. 
They  have  three  sons. 

VAN  SELLER  MOSLEY,  our  well  known  masonry  and  plas- 
tering contractor,  was  born  in  Edgar  County.  Illinois,  moving  to 
Washington  in  July,  18S5.  Received  his  education  in  our  public 
schools.     He  served  his  apprenticeship  with  his  father,  after  which 


he  launched  out  for  himself  and  with  marked  success.  An  expert 
at  his  work,  of  a  genial  disposition,  his  popularity  is  easily  under- 
stood. In  1905  Mr.  Mosley,  with  Wm.  Smith.  Jr..  commenced  the 
manufacture  of  cement  blocks,  a  building  material  that  in  a  few- 
years  will  replace  considerable  lumber,  ow4ng  to  its  high  price  and 
scarcity.  This  firm  has  engaged  in  this  business  at  the  opportune 
time  and  is  meeting  with  remarkable  encouragement.  Seller  is  one 
of  the  charter  members  of  our  well  known  Washington  band  and 
at  present  is  assistant  director.  He  married  Emyline  Kinsinger  in 
1904.     They  have  one  boy. 

GEO.  M.  MYERS,  our  popular  telephone  man,  was  born  in 
Woodford  County  in  1835.  He  moved  on  a  farm  one  and  a  half 
miles  south  of  Washington  in  1893,  where  he  successfully  carried 
on  farming  and  threshing  for  about  twenty  years.  He  came  to 
our  city  in  1898  and  built  his  present  home  on  South  Main  street 
in  1899.  Mr.  Myers,  with  other  parties,  bought  the  Washington 
Bell  telephone  outfit  in  1903  and  a  year  later  he  took  full  control. 
Under  his  management  the  e.\clian.ge  has  been  rebuilt  and  developed 
to  a  point  where  it  is  hard  to  improve  further.  In  1905  he  placed 
the  W'ires  in  the  business  part  underground,  an  improvement  ot 
which  very  few  small  cities  can  boast.  The  extending  of  the  toll 
line  to  Peicin  and  various  points  is  the  result  of  his  efforts  to  please 
his  patrons  and  is  in  line  with  his  efforts  in  general.  Mr.  Myers 
owns  farms  in  Illinois  and  Indiana.  In  1886  he  married  Mary  E. 
Van  Camp  and  they  have  one  son. 

JACOB  MILLER,  one  of  our  well  known  retired  farmers,  was 
born  in  Hesse.  Darmstadt.  Germany,  and  came  to  Washington  in 
1858.  living  on  a  farm  a  few  miles  east  of  town,  where  he  married 
Susan  Moschel  of  Peoria  in  1884.  They  moved  to  our  city  in  1899. 
where  Mr.  Miller  had  built  a  beautiful  home  and  which  he  enjoyed 
to  the  fullest  until  about  a  'ear  ago,  when  death  claimed  his  wife. 
Woodford  County,  where  he  lived  so  long,  honored  him  as  Super- 
visor for  a  couple  of  terms.  He  has  a  fine  farm  here  as  well  as  in 
Nebraska. 

W.  S.  NORRIS,  marshal  of  Washington  and  well  known  citi- 
zen, was  born  in  this  township  and  has  lived  here  all  his  life.  His 
father  came  here  in  1S33  from  England,  and  engaged  in  saw  mill 
work,  afterwards  turning  his  attention  to  farming.  He  was  a  sol- 
dier of  the  Mexican  and  Civil  wars.  Mr.  Norris  owns  a  fine  farm 
west  of  Washinarton.  where  he  has  lived  most  of  the  time  since  he 


was  married  until  two  years  ago.  when  he  bought  a  tine  home  and 
moved  to  town.  He  has  held  many  positions  of  trust,  among  them 
school  director,  commissioner  of  highways,  constable  and  city  mar- 
shal. In  1887  he  married  Mary  Odcll  and  to  this  union  two  sons 
and  a  daughter  were  born. 

W.  A.  PFEIFFER.  our  Big  Store  merchant,  was  born  in  Germ.my. 
moved  to  New  York  when  7  years  of  age  and  came  here  in  1899, 
forming  the  firm  of  Mnstoller  &  Pfeiffer.  with  which  he  continued 
until  1897  when  he  assumed  full  control  as  W.  A.  Pfeiffer  &  Co. 
His  time  outside  of  his  business  is  taken  up  with  his  farms  in 
Missouri.  Iowa.  Texas  and  Kansas,  and  other  property,  as  well  as 
his  duties  n.s  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He  also  served  as 
alderman.  He  was  married  to  Sophia  Reurs  in  New  York  state  in 
1886  and  they  have  five  children,  n;imel)-.  Pauline.  Elsie.  William  F-. 
Ernest  and  Raymond. 

P.  H.  P.'\RKER.  better  known  as  Ham.  was  born  in  Wood- 
ford County  and  in  1870  moved  to  Washington.  In  1878  he  became 
identified  in  the  grocery  business  as  partner  of  the  firm  of  C.  J. 
Gib.son  &  Co.,  which  house  was  very  prominent  in  business  circles 
at  that  time.  The  public  knows  Mr.  Parker  best  since  he  became 
assistant  postmaster  in  November,  1900,  a  position  which  he  fills 
to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  Mr.  Parker  is  a  prominent  Mason,  be- 
longing to  Taylor  Lodge  98  A.  F.  &  .-V.  M..  Tazewell  Chapter  199 
R.  .A.  M..  and  Washington  Council  77  R.  S.  &  M.,  and  is  treasurer 
of  all  three,  an  honor  not  often  conferred  on  a  member.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  B.  Foster  of  Peoria  m  1875. 

THEODORE  ROEHM  was  born  in  Washington,  where  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  graduated  with  the  class  of  1886.  At 
an  early  age  he  became  identified  with  the  retail  shoe  business, 
thoroughly  mastering  the  details  and  finding  himself  at  19  years  of 
age  capable  of  representing  one  of  the  largest  shoe  manufacturers 
in  the  country  as  traveling  salesman,  in  which  capacity  he  sold 
goods  in  all  the  larger  cities  of  the  United  States  and  for  five  and 
a  half  years,  made  the  Pacific  coast  trip,  a  territory  requiring  more 
salesmanship  and  being  more  remunerative  than  any  other.  He 
built  the  fine  home  he  now  occupies  in  1904.  It  is  located  on  a 
beautiful  spot  in  Highland  Park  and  is  one  of  our  prettiest  homes. 
Mr.  Roehm  married  Margaret  .\ndrews,  daughter  of  John  Asa, 
in  1894.     They  have  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 


\VM.  Kl  XKENBERGI'.R.  the  prominent  contractor  and  builder, 
was  born  at  I'armdale,  on  a  farm  which  his  parents  settled  on  when 
tirst  m.irricd  and  which  today,  after  60  years,  they  still  occupy.  This 
same  place  was  also  farmed  by  his  grandfather.  Mr.  Rinkenbergcr 
moved  here  in  1900,  following  his  occupation,  and  came  into  special 
prominence  when  in  1901  he  opened  Rinkenbergcr's  addition,  which 
he  has  gradually  developed  until  today  he  has  a  little  town  of  his 
own.  The  number  of  men  he  employs,  the  machinery  he  h;is  in  his 
shop  and  the  energy  displayed  by  this  man  makes  him  a  power  in 
our  community.  We  need  more  like  him.  He  was  elected  alder- 
man in  1904.  He  has  a  fine  farm  six  miles  from  town.  Mr.  Rinken- 
bergcr was  married  in  1887  and  lost  his  wife  in  i8gi.  He  has  one 
son. 

ALBERT  R.  RICH,  attorney-at-law,  was  born  on  a  farm  near 
Metamora  in  1845,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  In  1876  he  grad- 
uated at  the  Union  College  of  Law,  Chicago,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  July  4,  1876.  He  came  to  Washington  in  1901  and  in  1903 
built  the  fine  home  he  now  occupies  on  Elm  street.  Mr.  Rich's  prac- 
tice consists  chiefly  of  real  estate  law  and  chancery,  practicing  in 
all  courts.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  married  in  1879  to  Mary 
E.  Slemmons  and  they  have  three  sons.  Charles  C.  graduates  this 
June  at  the  University  of  Illinois.  D.  Homer  is  a  member  of  class 
1908  of  the  same  place. 

W.  F.  ROEHM,  the  old  reliable  shoe  merchant,  was  born  in 
Wuttenburg,  Germany,  in  1833,  moved  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  in  1847, 
then  to  Peoria  in  1856,  and  came  here  in  1865,  where  he  opened  a 
shoe  store  and  established  a  reputation  through  which  he  has  always 
enjoyed  a  large  trade.  He  was  alderman  at  the  time  our  public 
park  was  created.  Never  took  active  part  in  politics,  although  al- 
ways a  staunch  Republican.  He  has  well  improved  farms  in  Kansas 
and  Nebraska.  On  one  of  his  Nebraska  farms  he  has  established  a 
large  cattle  ranch  which  has  been  a  decided  success.  He  married 
Catharine  Jantzi  at  Peoria  in  1856,  from  which  union  there  are 
three  daughters  and  three  sons. 

JULIUS  J.  ROEHM  and  shoes  are  synonymous.  When  only 
17  years  of  age  we  find  him  in  charge  of  his  father's  branch  shoe 
store  at  Forrest,  111.  At  24  years  of  age  he  became  silent  partner 
of  the  wholesale  shoe  house  of  Geo.  A.  Brown  &  Co.,  Peoria,  111., 
in  which  position  he  continued  until    1891    when  he  organized  and 


1)cc:imL'  iniinagiiig  partner  of  ihe  tinn  of  Koehm  Bros.  6c  Co.  flie 
fates  have  been  kind  to  him.  otherwise  the  Chatsvvorth  wreck  would 
have  numbered  hiiu  among  the  eighty-one  killed,  as  he  was  one 
of  the  few  that  came  through  unscratched.  He  marricil  Kmma 
Kyes  in  1892  and  has  two  sons. 

FREDERICK  RICKMAN  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germ.my,  and 
moved  to  Washington  in  it-'6o.  As  a  carpenter  contractor  he  became 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Harrington  &  Rickman.  which  later  on 
dissolved  when  Mr.  Rickman  as  boss  contractor  became  one  of  our 
best  known  builders.  He  was  alderman  at  dififerent  times  and  as 
city  engineer  was  instrumental  in  getting  our  first  pavement  nn- 
provement  started  right.  Mr.  Rickman  married  Sophia  Baker  m 
1859,  from  which  union  five  sons  and  live  daughters  were  born. 
Three  sons  and  two  daughters  are  now  living. 

MRS.  EDMUND  J.  REICH,  daughter  of  the  well  known 
Philip  and  Catherine  Orth,  was  born  in  Washington,  where  she  was 
educated.  She  married  Edmund  J.  Reich  in  1884.  They  have  two 
children.  Marv  Elizabeth  and  Emily  Theresa.  Mr.  Reich  built  and 
occupied  the  Danforth  liank  building  until  a  few  years  ago  when 
he  sold  it  to  the  present  owners.  It  is  one  of  our  best  business 
blocks.  The  present  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reich  on  South  Mam 
street  was  planned  and  built  by  Mrs.  Reich.  It  is  a  fine  place  with 
modern  conveniences.  For  years  Mrs.  Reich  has  been  a  professional 
nurse  and  has  met  with  marked  success. 

GEO.  M.  STIMSOX,  our  prominent  and  progressive  citizen 
and  banker,  was  born  in  Patterson.  N.  J.  .\t  an  early  age  he  moved 
to  Peoria,  111.,  where  he  received  his  education.  He  began  his  bank- 
ing career  in  1884  with  the  Commercial  National  Bank,  continuing 
there  until  1898,  when  he  came  to  Washington  as  cashier  of  the 
A.  G.  Danforth  &  Co.  bank,  his  present  position.  Mr.  Stimson's 
genial  disposition  and  popularity  was  recognized  by  the  people  in 
electing  him  to  two  terms  as  alderman  and  live  years  as  member  of 
the  school  board,  which  offices  he  holds  at  the  present  time.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  State  Bankers  asso- 
ciation and  from  1903  to  1904  was  a  member  of  Tazewell  County 
Board  of  Review.  In  1898  he  moved  into  his  present  home,  one 
of  the  most  splendid  and  finest  in  our  beautiful  city.  Mr.  Stimson 
married  Mary  Telva  Danforth  in  1898  and  they  have  a  son  and  a 
daughter. 

CHRISTIAN    STRUBH.VR.  a   well-to-do  retired   farmer,   was 


born  in  .McLean  Cuunt.\ .  111..  in<i\'ing  t(j  \\'a-.hiiigtoii  in  186.=;  with 
his  parents,  and  locating  on  the  farm  so  well  known  as  the  Strub- 
bar  country  homestead.  His  father.  Peter  T.  Strubh:ir,  was  one  of 
the  best  known  and  most  respected  men  in  his  time.  The  subject 
of  our  sketch  moved  to  Washington  in  1903  with  liis  family  on  a 
beautiful  site  on  North  Hill.  The  people  soon  recognized  his 
ability  by  electing  him  for  alderman  in  1904.  As  a  substantial  rec- 
ognition of  his  thrift  he  owns  considerable  farm  property  in  Indiana 
and  Illinois.     Mr.  Strubhar  has  four  daughters  and  one  son. 

WM.  SMITH,  JR.,  the  builder  and  contractor,  is  not  -  only 
well  known  from  his  own  good  works,  but  is  descended  from  a 
family  whose  past  two  or  three  generations  hive  enjoyed  an  envi- 
ous reputation  as  first-class,  conscientious  builders.  His  father  prac- 
tically built  the  Henry  Denhart  residence,  oije  of  our  finest  and 
most  e-xpensive  homes.  Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Washington,  receiv- 
ing his  education  at  our  public  schools,  and  some  years  later  took 
an  architectural  course  with  the  International  Correspondence 
School.  This  combining  of  science  and  practical  work  partly  ac- 
counts for  the  fine  reputation  he  enjoys.  With  Mr.  Mosley  he 
began  the  manufacture  of  cement  blocks  in  1905  and  had  a  good 
trade  at  the  very  start,  being  unable  to  take  care  of  all  the  orders, 
and  they  will  be  compelled  to  increase  the  capacity  this  coming  sea- 
son. These  cement  blocks  are  supplanting  lumber  the  world  over 
and  in  a  few  years  cement  houses  will  be  common  sights.  Mr. 
Smith's  present  home  is  being  built  of  cement  blocks  and  will  be 
finished  this  year.     He  married  Minnie  Earl  in  1900. 

R.  F.  TANTON,  retired  capitalist,  was  born  in  Woodford 
County  and  moved  to  Washington  in  1893.  In  1902  he  moved  into 
his  present  home  on  South  Main 'street,  which  is  one  of  the  finest 
in  our  citx'.  Mr.  Tanton  has  been  a  member  of  our  school  board 
a  great  many  years  and  the  success  and  standing  of  our  schools 
today  are  due  in  no  small  part  to  his  doings.  He  has  always  been 
very  successful  in  his  business  dealings  and  today  owns  farms  in 
Indiana,  Iowa,  Nebraska  and  Illinois.  He  married  May  Dodds  in 
1893  and  has  two  sons. 

W.  E.  THOMAS,  retired  farmer,  was  born  in  Washington  in 
1839  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Bell  House,  immediately  west 
of  the  Methodist  church.  When  2  years  of  age,  his  parents  moved 
to  a  farm  three  miles  northwest  of  this  city,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood   and    continued    farming    until    through    his    thrift    he    became 


owner  of  the  place  and  gradually  developed  it  into  a  model  farm. 
In  1905  he  built  a  fine  home  on  North  Hill  and  again  moved  to 
town  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  a  well  earned  victory.  Mr.  Thomas 
served  in  the  47th  Illinois  Infantry  during  1862-65  and  was  in  the 
battles  of  Vicksburg,  also  at  Jackson.  Miss.,  and  in  numerous  battle; 
along  Red  River.  He  married  Louise  Sunderland  of  Mackinaw  in 
1868.     They  have  a  family  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 

BEX  TOBIAS,  in  his  prominence  and  popularity,  is  unique  with 
his  fatherly  characteristics  and  his  old  style  honesty.  He  was  born 
in  Burks  County,  Pa.,  in  1829.  From  there  he  moved  to  Pickaway 
County,  Ohio,  during  which  time  he  received  his  education  and 
thoroughly  learned  the  blacksniithing  and  wagon  work  business. 
On  coming  to  Washington  in  1855  he  started  the  manufacturing  of 
plows,  which  he  soon  increased  to  a  general  manufacture  of  all 
farm  implements  and  wagons,  besides  doing  an  e.xtcnsive  repair 
business.  In  1859  he  built  the  Ben  Tobias  brick  block  to  accommo- 
date the  increased  business.  Mr.  Tobias  has  been  mayor  three 
diflferent  terms,  an  honor  he  alone  enjoys,  the  last  term  was  just 
after  the  electric  plant  explosion,  which  was  rebuilt  and  the  new 
franchise  and  other  arrangements  completed  during  his  time.  He 
was  Justice  of  the  Peace  a  great  many  years,  also  served  as  super- 
visor one  term  and  was  postmaster  during  Cleveland's  first  admin- 
istration, at  which  time  he  rebuilt  the  interior  and  put  in  the  mod- 
ern fixtures  now  being  used  in  our  postoffice.  Mr.  Tobias  served 
on  the  board  of  education  for  twelve  years,  being  director  when 
our  present  school  house  was  built  during  the  middle  seventies.  It 
was  through  his  untiring  efforts  that  we  have  the  substantial, 
convenient  school  building  we  now  enjoy,  but  above  all  through 
his  sterling  integrity  that  outside  grafters  failed  to  work  in  their 
shoddy  furniture  and  material  in  general,  the  result  being  that 
hardly  any  repairs  have  been  necessary  during  the  thirty  years  it 
has  been  usea.  The  fathers  and  mothers  of  this  community  owe 
Mr.  Tobias  untold  gratitude  for  the  thorough  system  of  ventilation 
which  he  insisted  should  be  installed  in  our  schools  for  the  preserv- 
ing and  building  up  of  the  children's  health.  Mr.  Tobias'  home  is 
built  on  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sites  in  our  city.  The  original 
was  built  in  1870  and  burned  in  1886.  1  hat  same  year  he  rebuilt 
the  home  he  now  occupies.  It  is  one  of  our  finest  homes.  He  has 
a  goodly  supply  01  this  world's  possessions  and  is  fully  entitled  to 
the  ease  he  now  enjoys  after  years  of  such  intense  activity.  He 
married  Eliza  J.  .\nderson  in  1850  and  has  three  sons. 


D.  R.  V'.W  METER,  one  of  our  best  known  citizens,  was  born 

in  Kentucky  in  1830,  where  he  lived  until  six  years  of  age,  when 
he  came  to  Illinois.  Later  on  he  moved  to  Wisconsin,  living  there 
until  i860,  when  he  returned  to  our  city  and  engaged  in  the  car- 
pentering business.  During  this  time,  January,  1856,  he  returned 
and  married  Susan  Baker  and  in  January,  1906,  had  the  unusual 
pleasure  of  celebrating  his  golden  wedding,  at  which  event  his  entire 
family,  consisting  of  five  daughters  and  three  sons,  were  present, 
although  widely  scattered  over  the  United  States.  The  home  Mr. 
■Van  Meter  now  occupies  was  built  in  l8g3  and  is  a  pretty  place 
located  on  a  fine  site.  He  has  always  been  a  consistent,  steady 
worker  in  the  Methodist  church. 

ISAAC  J.  WRIGHT,  our  progressive  grocery  merchant,  was 
born  at  Dana,  uut  moved  to  Minonk  at  an  early  age,  where  he  at- 
tended the  public  school  and  graduated  from  the  high  school.  He 
also  took  a  full  business  course  in  the  Gem  City  Business  College, 
Quincy,  111.,  after  which  he  entered  the  grocery  business  at  Minonk, 
following  this  business  for  years,  besides  being  for  a  few  years 
with  the  Priebe,  Simater  Co.,  wholesale  produce  dealers,  which  gave 
him  an  experience  which  helped  most  decidedly  in  making  his  suc- 
cessful grocery  and  business  career.  He  moved  to  Washington  in 
F905  and  with  Frank  B.  Hungerford  opened  the  Standard  grocery 
store,  whidi  enjoys  a  big  share  of  the  trade  of  our  community.  Mr. 
Wright  married  Xellie  M.  Hungerford  in  1903. 

CH.\S.  A.  WALTMIRE,  practicing  attorney-at-law  in  all  the 
state  and  U.  S.  courts,  was  born  in  New  Salem,  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio.  He  came  to  this  county  in  1866,  attending  college  at  the 
Wesleyan  University,  Bloomingfton,  and  receiving  his  law  education 
at  the  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor.  He  moved  to  Washing- 
ton in  1897  and  built  his  fine  new  home  in  1901.  He  is  president 
ol  the  Tazewell  County  Bar  association,  certainly  an  honor  from  his 
co-workers.  Mr.  Waltmire  has  been  city  attorney  about  four  terms 
and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Republican  city  committee  as  well  as 
delegate  to  the  state  and  county  convention  at  different  tim.;s, 
being  a  delegate  to  the  memorable  Yates  deadlock  convention  a 
few  years  ago.  He  married  Martha  B.  Miller  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
in  1B87  and  has  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

BALSER  WENK  is  well  known  in  the  community  through  his 
shoe  business  relationship,  both  as  clerk  and  employer,  then  again 


in  building  five  new  houses  and  helping  the  development  of  the 
town.  In  his  general  real  estate  doings  we  become  still  better 
acquainted  with  him.  But  to  cap  the  climax  we  must  follow  him  in 
his  special  hobby — breeding  fancy  poultry — in  which  he  has  been 
very  successful,  shipping  birds  all  over  the  country  and  Canada, 
before  we  can  appreciate  him  to  the  fullest  extent.  Mr.  Wenk  was 
born  in  Germany  in  1845,  moved  to  Canada  in  1865,  and  from  there 
came  to  Washington  where  he  married  Mary  Jantzi  in  1872. 

J.  P.  WRENN,  the  well  known  grain  man.  was  born  and  grew 
to  manhood  in  our  beautiful  city,  marrying  Ella  Fifer.  daughter 
of  Peter  Fifer,  our  first  mayor.  They  have  two  daughters  and 
one  son.  Some  years  ago  Mr.  Wrenn  ran  a  string  of  elevators  at 
Low  Point,  Secor,  Eureka,  and  Roanoke;  the  latter  he  still  owns 
and  gives  his  attention.  As  a  recognition  of  his  abilities  he  was 
elected  director  of  the  State  Grain  Dealers'  association  and  later 
on  by  the  home  people  as  supervisor,  besides  forcing  him  year  after 
year  on  the  school  board.  Always  a  lover  of  a  good  horse  we  were 
not  surprised  a  few  years  ago  to  see  him  act  as  judge  in  the  largest 
race  meet  Peoria  ever  held.  His  shrewdness  has  been  rewarded 
with  600  acres  of  good  Illinois  soil  as  well  as  farms  in  Kansas  and 
smaller  properties  and  investments  in  different  plac;s,  not  the  least 
of  which  is  his  beautiful  home  in  our  city. 

DR.  WM.  H.  WEIRICK  was  born  in  Hasleton,  Pa.,  and  moved 
to  Washington  in  1876.  He  is  a  G.  A.  R.  man,  having  enlisted  in 
the  131st  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  under  fire  in  the 
memorable  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  He  attended  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania  and  graduated  in  medicine  with  the  class  of  '66. 
During  Prof.  Hartwell's  time  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board.  He  married  Harriet  N.  Wilson  in  1869.  They  have  three 
daughters  and  one  son.  Ralph  has  a  fine  position  in  New  York  City 
as  an  architect.  Elizabeth  S.  is  instructor  of  chemistry  at  the 
Pratt  Institute  and  has  been  there  the  past  three  years.  Margaret 
is  teaching  in  the  high  school  at  Averyville.  Agnes  is  married  and 
living  in  New  York. 

A.  M.  AND  CHAS.  R.  WEBSTER,  real  estate  and  einigrant 
agents,  are  well  known  in  our  community  as  well  as  in  the  business 


world  at  large.  Under  the  firm  name  of  Web.-iter  &  Son  they  have 
been  very  successful  and  have  amassed  a  good  lot  of  this  world's 
goods  in  the  shape  of  dollars,  farms,  oil  and  mniing  stock.  They 
have  fine  homes  located  on  beautiful  sites  on  North  Hill.  A.  M. 
Webster  married  Maggie  Lawson  to  whom  two  sons  were  born. 
Chas.  R.  Webster,  son  of  A.  M.,  married  Marie  Wrenn.  They  have 
a  daughter. 

DR.  H.  A.  ZINSER,  our  popular  physician,  is  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington. At  an  early  age  his  father,  I.  Zinser,  noticed  the  son's 
decided  inclination  and  from  then  on  headed  him  towards  his  pro- 
fession. He  attended  our  public  schools,  then  took  a  preliminary 
course  at  the  Lake  Forest  University,  after  which  he  entered  Rush 
Medical  College,  one  of  the  best  known  and  highly  successful  col- 
leges of  the  United  States.  He  graduated  with  the  class  of  1895. 
His  success  at  Roanoke.  Ill,  where  he  practiced  ten  years,  was 
remarkable,  being  by  far  the  most  successful  practice  ever  enjoyed 
by  anyone  at  that  place  before,  and  on  coming  back  to  his  home 
town,  Washington  in  1905,  is  it  any  surprise  to  see  him  so  successful 
here?  Out  of  thousands  at  college  he  was  picked  as  one  of  the 
officers  of  the  Nu  Sig  Ma  Nu,  a  college  fraternity,  showing  his 
worth  was  recognized  among  his  associates.  He  bought  the  beauti- 
ful home  site  he  now  occupies  in  1905.  It  is  one  of  the  best  locations 
in  our  city.  Dr.  Zinser  married  Harriet  Heiple  in  i89(j.  I'hey  have 
a  daughter. 

I.  ZINSER,  the  well  known  druggist,  was  born  in  Fairfield 
County,  Ohio,  and  moved  to  Illinois  in  1851.  He  was  married  to 
Martha  Tobias  at  Plainfield,  ill.,  and  opened  a  drug  store  under 
the  firm  name  of  Zinser  &  Hasting,  which  firm  later  moved  to 
Washington,  111.  He  was  town  treasurer  for  a  great  many  years, 
a  position  which  his  son  Roy  holds  today.  Mr.  Zinser  also  was 
a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  He  had  five  sons  and  one  daughter.  At 
the  death  of  Mr.  I.  Zinser,  his  oldest  son,  Elmer,  who  was  born 
and  attended  our  schools  here,  took  the  management  of  the  reor- 
ganized 1.  Zinser  Co.,  after  giving  up  a  fine  position  with  H. 
Bucklen  &  Co.  as  general  traveling  salesman  for  the  southern  states. 
This  firm  has  been  exceptionally  successful.  Elmer  married  Eliza- 
beth Klingenberger  m  1904. 


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